ON THE STATE ROAD FROM POTOSÍ TO SUCRE
Numerous islands dot the surface of the lake. One is of real interest. It is known as Titicaca Island. It has a population of about 300, but of that number there is but one man who can read and write. In all Bolivia, only 30,000 children attend school, out of a total population of 2,000,000. The aborigines do not seem to care for education, and the Bolivians of European race are few in number.
Inca Ruins
On a small island in Lake Titicaca is the ruined Temple of the Sun, another reminder of the days of the Incas. When that empire flourished, this portion of Bolivia was also under the domination of the Inca ruler; and even today, in some parts of Bolivia, one still comes upon numerous evidences of Inca rule, such as the ruins of buildings, temples and stone images, which plainly indicate that they were the work of that remarkable, ancient people. Inaccessible as is the country, for one who can stand the journey it affords much of interest. If there were nothing more in Bolivia than the view afforded in looking down from the rim of the cup upon La Paz, this alone would tempt one to visit the country. The buildings of this city have the appearance of so many tea leaves left in the bottom of a cup, so tiny do they seem from above. Another glorious scene is that of the encircling mountains that surround Lake Titicaca, crowning it with a diadem of snow-covered peaks—a view that is unsurpassed among the world’s natural wonders.
The Interior Waterways
Although Bolivia has no seaport, the country has a great network of rivers. The entire length of Bolivia’s navigable streams is about 12,000 miles. These naturally provide excellent means of transportation and communication. The Paraguay River is navigable for about 1,100 miles for steamers of from eight to ten feet draft. The Itenes has about 1,000 miles of navigable water. Another river, the Beni, is navigable for 1,000 miles for steamers of six feet draft only. Other streams, such as the Pilcomayo, Mamoré, Sara, and Paragua Rivers can accommodate light draft vessels for distances varying from 200 to 1,000 miles.
From the ocean Bolivia can be approached through the ports of Mollendo, in Peru, or Arica and Antofagasta in Chile. These are all regular ports of call of the steamers between Panama and Valparaiso. From these ports there is railroad communication to Bolivia.
CITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, SUCRE