Sorata

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Sorata
Sorata, Bolivia.jpg
Panoramic view of Sorata
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Sorata
Location within Bolivia
Coordinates: 15°46′S68°38′W / 15.767°S 68.633°W / -15.767; -68.633
Country Flag of Bolivia.svg Bolivia
Department Flag of La paz.svg La Paz Department
Province Larecaja Province
Municipality Sorata Municipality
Canton Sorata Canton
Elevation
8,786 ft (2,678 m)
Population
 (2029)
 • Total2,217
Time zone UTC-4 (BOT)

Sorata (Aymara: Surat'a) is a small town in the La Paz Department in the Bolivian Andes, northwest of the city of La Paz and east of Lake Titicaca. It is the seat of the Larecaja Province and the Sorata Municipality. At the time of census 2001 it had a population of 2,217. [1] It is a somewhat popular weekend getaway and a relaxing base camp for a growing number of hikers. It includes several small hotels, including a converted Italian mansion.

Contents

History

In colonial days, Sorata provided a link to the Alto Beni goldfields and rubber plantations, and a gateway to the Amazon Basin. In August 1781 it was the site of an unorthodox siege by the nephew of Tupac Amaru, Andres, and his 16,000 soldiers. They constructed dikes above the town, and when these had been filled with runoff from the slopes of the nearby peak Illampu, they opened the floodgates and the town was washed away. [2] [3] The citizens of Sorata have, in recent history, violently opposed what they see as the rule of a too centralised government. For example, in the summer of 2005, the town was blockaded and inaccessible for several days in response to the government's plans to privatise Bolivia'a oil reserves.[ citation needed ] It is said that during world war 2, many immigrants from the war came to this city.

Cityscape

Sorata2.jpg

Sorata is no longer a major commercial center, as there is now a more direct route to the Yungas from La Paz. Today it is best known to foreign tourists, trekkers, and climbers, who visit this formerly little-known destination. The main square, Plaza General Enrique Penaranda, is Sorata's showcase. It is graced by towering date palms and immaculate gardens. The main town fiesta is held on September 14. Of note is Casa Gunthere, a historic mansion that now houses the Residencial Sorata. It was built in 1895 as the home of the Richters, a quinine trading family.

Sorata1.jpg

Sorata is located at the base of the mountains Illampu, 6,368 m (20,892 ft), and Janq'u Uma, 6,427 m (21,086 ft), which are the northern anchors of the Cordillera Real. By the most reliable figures, Janq'u Uma is 11 m (36 ft) lower than Illimani, near La Paz, but surveys in the area are imperfect, and there is much debate between the citizens of both areas as to which mountain is higher.


Climate

Sorata features an unusual subtropical highland climate, with oceanic elements and high levels of diurnal temperature variation.

Climate data for Sorata, Bolivia, elevation: 3,650 m, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1945–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)26.5
(79.7)		25.5
(77.9)		26.0
(78.8)		25.0
(77.0)		25.0
(77.0)		23.0
(73.4)		23.1
(73.6)		24.3
(75.7)		26.6
(79.9)		26.5
(79.7)		27.1
(80.8)		27.2
(81.0)		27.2
(81.0)
Average high °C (°F)18.5
(65.3)		18.7
(65.7)		18.9
(66.0)		19.2
(66.6)		19.1
(66.4)		17.8
(64.0)		17.4
(63.3)		18.4
(65.1)		19.0
(66.2)		19.8
(67.6)		20.4
(68.7)		20.0
(68.0)		18.9
(66.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)12.9
(55.2)		13.0
(55.4)		13.0
(55.4)		12.7
(54.9)		11.8
(53.2)		10.5
(50.9)		10.1
(50.2)		11.0
(51.8)		11.9
(53.4)		13.0
(55.4)		13.7
(56.7)		13.7
(56.7)		12.3
(54.1)
Average low °C (°F)7.4
(45.3)		7.3
(45.1)		7.2
(45.0)		6.3
(43.3)		4.6
(40.3)		3.3
(37.9)		2.8
(37.0)		3.7
(38.7)		4.8
(40.6)		6.2
(43.2)		7.0
(44.6)		7.5
(45.5)		5.7
(42.3)
Record low °C (°F)1.5
(34.7)		2.0
(35.6)		1.1
(34.0)		0.6
(33.1)		−2.0
(28.4)		−6.0
(21.2)		−2.8
(27.0)		−5.0
(23.0)		−0.8
(30.6)		0.0
(32.0)		0.5
(32.9)		1.0
(33.8)		−6.0
(21.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)202.8
(7.98)		178.0
(7.01)		132.9
(5.23)		95.4
(3.76)		46.2
(1.82)		37.5
(1.48)		42.4
(1.67)		35.2
(1.39)		55.4
(2.18)		66.0
(2.60)		87.1
(3.43)		137.8
(5.43)		1,116.6
(43.96)
Average precipitation days21.317.015.48.63.52.22.13.96.710.711.416.1119.0
Average relative humidity (%)72.072.270.566.254.848.350.452.058.156.558.864.360.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours 145.4158.4167.9187.6245.7238.3240.9250.1232.0215.5181.5171.22,434.5
Mean daily sunshine hours 5.05.95.96.68.28.28.88.58.27.46.86.07.1
Source: Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia [4]

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Larecaja is a province in the Bolivian La Paz Department. It was founded by Antonio José de Sucre on October 18, 1826. Its capital is Sorata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illampu</span> Mountain in Bolivia

Illampu is the fourth highest mountain in Bolivia. It is located in the northern section of the Cordillera Real, part of the Andes, east of Lake Titicaca. It lies just north of the slightly higher Janq'u Uma, near the town of Sorata. Laguna Glaciar, located in the Illampu-Janq'u Uma massif, is the 17th highest lake in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancohuma</span> Mountain in Bolivia

Ancohuma or Janq'u Uma is the third highest mountain in Bolivia. It is located in the northern section of the Cordillera Real, part of the Andes, east of Lake Titicaca. It lies just south of the slightly lower Illampu, near the town of Sorata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorata Municipality</span> Municipality in La Paz Department, Bolivia

Sorata Municipality is the first municipal section of the Larecaja Province in the La Paz Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Sorata. The Illampu - Janq'u Uma massif is located within the municipality, site of the 17th highest lake in the world, Laguna Glaciar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Q'asiri (Larecaja)</span> Mountain in Bolivia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calzada (mountain)</span> Mountain in Bolivia

Calzada is a mountain in the Andes, about 5,874 m (19,272 ft) high, located in the Cordillera Real of Bolivia. It lies in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, on the border of the Sorata Municipality and the Guanay Municipality. It is situated south-east of Ancohuma, between the mountain Q'asiri in the north-west and Chearoco in the south-east, and east of San Francisco Lake.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jach'a Pukara</span> Mountain in Bolivia

Jach'a Pukara is a mountain in the Andes of Bolivia, about 4,300 metres (14,108 ft) high. It is situated in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality. Jach'a Pukara lies between Lake Titicaca in the west and the Janq'u Uma-Illampu massif of the Cordillera Real in the east.

Uma Jalanta is a mountain in the Cordillera Real in the Andes of Bolivia, about 5,723 metres (18,776 ft) high. It is located in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality. It lies south-east of the mountains Janq'u Uma and Janq'u Piti, near the mountain Misk'i T'ant'a.

Yapuchañani is a mountain in the Cordillera Real in the Andes of Bolivia, about 5,526 metres (18,130 ft) high. It is located in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality. It lies northeast of Misk'i T'ant'a and Uma Jalanta, east of Janq'u Uma and Janq'u Piti and southeast of Wiluyu Janq'u Uma.

Wiluyu Janq'u Uma or Wiluyu is a mountain in the Cordillera Real in the Andes of Bolivia, about 5,540 metres (18,176 ft) high. It is located in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality. It lies northwest of the mountain Yapuchañani, northeast of Misk'i T'ant'a and Uma Jalanta and east of Illampu.

Janq'u K'ark'a is a mountain in the Cordillera Real in the Andes of Bolivia, about 5,200 metres (17,060 ft) high. It is situated in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality, and in the Omasuyos Province, Achacachi Municipality. Janq'u K'ark'a lies south of the Janq'u Uma-Illampu massif, southeast of the mountain Quña Quñani and the lakes Warawarani (Huara Huarani) and Jisk'a Warawarani (Jiskha Huara Huarani).

Wila Quta is a mountain in the Andes of Bolivia, about 4,960 metres (16,273 ft) high. It is situated in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality, north of the massif of Janq'u Uma and Illampu of the Cordillera Real. The river Janq'u Uma Jawira originates south of the mountain. It flows to the north-east.

Ch'uch'u Jawira is a Bolivian river in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality. Its waters flow the Kaka River which belongs to the watershed of the Beni River.

P'iq'iñ Qullu is a mountain in the north of the Cordillera Real in the Andes of Bolivia, about 4,875-metre (15,994 ft) high. It is situated in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality. P'iq'iñ Qullu lies west of the Janq'u Uma-Illampu massif southeast of Sorata.

Jach'a Apachita is a mountain in the Andes of Bolivia, about 4,420 metres (14,501 ft) high. It is situated in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality. Jach'a Apachita lies northeast of the Janq'u Uma-Illampu massif of the Cordillera Real.

Ch'uch'u Apachita is a 4,855-metre-high (15,928 ft) mountain in the Andes of Bolivia. It is situated in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality. Ch'uch'u Apachita lies north of the main range of the Cordillera Real, south to southwest of the mountain Ch'uch'u, northwest of Chunta Qullu and east of Jukumarini. This is where the river Ch'uch'u Jawira originates.

Ch'uxñani is a 4,680-metre-high (15,354 ft) mountain in the Andes of Bolivia. It is located in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality, in the northern extensions of the Cordillera Real southeast of the mountain Jach'a Waylla Punta. Ch'uxñani lies near the confluence of the rivers Ch'uch'u Jawira which comes from the northwest and Jach'a Uma Jawira which originates between the mountain Wila Quta and the Janq'u Uma-Illampu massif.

Qala Phusa is a 4,884-metre-high (16,024 ft) mountain in the Andes of Bolivia. It is situated in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality. Qala Phusa lies north of the Janq'u Uma-Illampu massif of the Cordillera Real, northwest of the mountain Wila Quta and southeast of Llawi Imaña.

Quña Quñani is a 5,006-metre-high (16,424 ft) mountain in the north of the Cordillera Real in the Andes of Bolivia. It is located in the La Paz Department, Larecaja Province, Sorata Municipality. Quña Quñani lies south of the Janq'u Uma-Illampu massif between the lakes Laram Quta in the northwest and Warawarani (Huara Huarani) and Jisk'a Warawarani (Jiskha Huara Huarani) in the east and southeast. It is situated north and northwest of the mountains Salluyu (Salluyo) and Janq'u K'ark'a.

References

  1. ↑ World-Gazetteer [ dead link ]
  2. ↑ Deanna Swaney, Robert Strauss, Bolivia (Second Edition), Lonely Planet, 1992.
  3. ↑ The siege is mentioned in Herbert S. Klein, Bolivia: the evolution of a multi-ethnic society (second edition), Oxford, 1992; however that book makes no mention of the tactic of flooding the town.
  4. ↑ "Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología". SENAMHI. Retrieved 18 October 2021.

Coordinates: 15°46′24″S68°38′53″W / 15.77333°S 68.64806°W / -15.77333; -68.64806

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