Editing La Paz (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:La Paz a Illimani - panoramio (1).jpg|thumb|La Paz is characterized by its mountainous geography, the snow-capped [[Illimani]] dominates the city's skyline]]
La Paz is in the valleys of [[the Andes]], close to the Eastern split of the [[Altiplano]] region. The metropolitan area is near to the [[Cordillera Real (Bolivia) | Cordillera Real]] range, which includes such notable mountains as [[Illimani]] (guardian of La Paz), [[Mururata]], [[Huayna Potosi]], [[Chacaltaya]], [[Kunturiri (Los Andes)|Kunturiri]], [[Llamp'u]], [[Chachakumani]], [[Chearoco]], and [[Ancohuma]]. 

La Paz is built in a canyon created by the [[Choqueyapu River]] (now mostly built over), which runs northwest to southeast. The city's main thoroughfare, which roughly follows the river, changes names over its length, but the central tree-lined section running through the downtown core is called the Prado.

The geography of La Paz (in particular the altitude) is marked by social differences. The more affluent residents live in the lower, central areas of the city southwest of the Prado. Many middle-class residents live in high-rise condos near the center. Lower-income residents live in makeshift brick houses in the surrounding hills. The satellite city of El Alto, where the airport is, is spread over a broad area to the west of the canyon, on the Altiplano.

An [[1994 Bolivia earthquake|earthquake in July 1994]] rated at 8.2 struck {{convert|200|mi|0|abbr=out}} north of La Paz. It could be felt near La Paz and caused damage throughout the villages of the area. In February 2002 the city was subjected to a hail and rainstorm that resulted in [[2002 La Paz floods|flooding]] causing serious damage and over 50 deaths.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Enever |first1=Andrew |title=Fifty dead in shock Bolivian flood |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1833002.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |date=21 February 2002 |access-date=30 November 2021 |archive-date=4 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004201046/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1833002.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
[[File:Centro de La Paz, Bolivia.jpg|thumb|Due to its geographical location and altitude, La Paz has an unusual climate with rainy summers, dry winters and little temperature seasonality]]
{{climate chart
| La Paz (Laikakota Park)
|7.4|18.5|125.5
|7.3|18.7|81.0
|7.2|18.9|67.5
|6.3|19.2|27.1
|4.6|19.1|8.9
|3.3|17.8|7.9
|2.8|17.4|5.3
|3.7|18.4|12.1
|4.8|19.0|24.5
|6.2|19.8|37.8
|7.0|20.4|43.9
|7.5|20.0|82.3
|float=right
|clear=none
|units=metric
}}
At more than {{convert|4000|m|ft|sp=us}} above sea level, higher parts of La Paz have a [[Oceanic climate#Subpolar oceanic and cold subtropical highland varieties (Cfc, Cwc)|subalpine subtropical highland climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cwc''), bordering on a [[Polar climate|tundra climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''ET''). At this altitude, night-time temperatures range from cold to very cold. [[Snow flurry|Snow flurries]] can occur in winter, especially at dawn and usually melts before noon. Despite being located only 16 degrees from the equator, this part of the city has average temperatures  similar to that of cities such as [[Bergen]], [[Norway]] or [[Tórshavn]], [[Faroe Islands]].

Temperatures in central La Paz, at {{convert|3600|m|0|abbr=off|sp=us}}, and in the ''Zona Sur'' (Southern Zone), at {{cvt|3250|m|0}} above sea level are warmer and are classified as [[Oceanic climate|subtropical highland climates]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cwb'').<ref name="Climate-Data.org">{{cite web |title=Climate: La Paz (altitude: 3610&nbsp;m) – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table |url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/764108/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105061638/http://en.climate-data.org/location/764108/ |archive-date=5 January 2014 |access-date=5 January 2014 |publisher=Climate-Data.org}}</ref> Heavy precipitation typically occurs throughout summer, and often causes destructive [[Mudflow|mudslides]]. At an altitude of 3,250 meters, in the southern part of the city, the wettest month is January with a monthly average of {{cvt|114|mm|in|1}}, and the driest is July with {{cvt|8|mm|in|1}}.

The whole city has rainy summers and dry winters. The city has a relatively dry climate, with rainfall occurring mainly in the slightly warmer months of November to March. Heavy precipitation typically occurs throughout summer, and often causes destructive [[Mudflow|mudslides]]. The wettest month is January with a monthly average of {{cvt|100-140|mm|in|1}} of precipitation, and the driest months are June and July with around {{cvt|5|mm|in|1}} of precipitation.

In the highest part of the city, above 4,000 meters, the two cloudiest months are February and March, in late summer, when sunshine averages around 5 hours per day. The two sunniest months are June and July, in winter, when sunshine averages around 8 hours per day.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.la-paz.climatemps.com/index.php |title=La Paz Climate La Paz Temperatures La Paz Weather Averages |access-date=12 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616071238/http://www.la-paz.climatemps.com/index.php |archive-date=16 June 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location=[[El Alto]], Bolivia ([[El Alto International Airport]]), elevation {{convert|4058|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present)
|collapsed=
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|Jan record high C = 25.4
|Feb record high C = 22.8
|Mar record high C = 25.1
|Apr record high C = 22.9
|May record high C = 24.0
|Jun record high C = 20.0
|Jul record high C = 23.0
|Aug record high C = 21.0
|Sep record high C = 23.0
|Oct record high C = 23.0
|Nov record high C = 24.2
|Dec record high C = 22.0
|year record high C = 25.4
|Jan high C = 14.7
|Feb high C = 14.7
|Mar high C = 14.6
|Apr high C = 15.1
|May high C = 15.1
|Jun high C = 14.6
|Jul high C = 14.5
|Aug high C = 15.3
|Sep high C = 15.7
|Oct high C = 16.3
|Nov high C = 17.3
|Dec high C = 15.8
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 9.5
|Feb mean C = 9.5
|Mar mean C = 9.0
|Apr mean C = 8.2
|May mean C = 6.5
|Jun mean C = 5.3
|Jul mean C = 5.1
|Aug mean C = 6.0
|Sep mean C = 7.5
|Oct mean C = 8.9
|Nov mean C = 10.0
|Dec mean C = 9.9
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 4.3
|Feb low C = 4.3
|Mar low C = 3.4
|Apr low C = 1.2
|May low C = -2.1
|Jun low C = −4.0
|Jul low C = −4.3
|Aug low C = −3.3
|Sep low C = -0.8
|Oct low C = 1.5
|Nov low C = 2.6
|Dec low C = 3.9
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = -3.3
|Feb record low C = -3.3
|Mar record low C = −2.7
|Apr record low C = −4.7
|May record low C = −10.3
|Jun record low C = −12.4
|Jul record low C = −11.9
|Aug record low C = −10.0
|Sep record low C = −10.0
|Oct record low C = −5.4
|Nov record low C = −5.0
|Dec record low C = −2.8
|year record low C = -12.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 133.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 104.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 71.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 31.7
|May precipitation mm = 14.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 5.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 7.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 15.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 35.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 38.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 50.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 94.9
|year precipitation mm = 602.5
|Jan humidity = 66
|Feb humidity = 72
|Mar humidity = 67
|Apr humidity = 59
|May humidity = 48
|Jun humidity = 42
|Jul humidity = 43
|Aug humidity = 42
|Sep humidity = 48
|Oct humidity = 49
|Nov humidity = 51
|Dec humidity = 60
|year humidity = 54
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 20.7
|Feb precipitation days = 15.8
|Mar precipitation days = 14.2
|Apr precipitation days = 9.8
|May precipitation days = 3.6
|Jun precipitation days = 2.8
|Jul precipitation days = 2.8
|Aug precipitation days = 5.1
|Sep precipitation days = 8.2
|Oct precipitation days = 10.4
|Nov precipitation days = 11.5
|Dec precipitation days = 15.5
|year precipitation days = 120.3
|Jan snow days = 0.07
|Feb snow days = 0.0
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.03
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.03
|Jul snow days = 0.13
|Aug snow days = 0.67
|Sep snow days = 0.37
|Oct snow days = 0.17
|Nov snow days = 0.17
|Dec snow days = 0.03
|year snow days = 1.67
|Jan sun = 179.8
|Feb sun = 155.4
|Mar sun = 148.8
|Apr sun = 165.0
|May sun = 229.4
|Jun sun = 240.0
|Jul sun = 235.6
|Aug sun = 226.3
|Sep sun = 192.0
|Oct sun = 179.8
|Nov sun = 171.0
|Dec sun = 180.0
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 5.8
|Febd sun = 5.5
|Mard sun = 4.8
|Aprd sun = 5.5
|Mayd sun = 7.4
|Jund sun = 8.0
|Juld sun = 7.6
|Augd sun = 7.3
|Sepd sun = 6.4
|Octd sun = 5.8
|Novd sun = 5.7
|Decd sun = 6.0
|yeard sun = 6.3
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (precipitation 1961–1990, humidity 1951–1981),<ref name="DWD">{{cite web |url=http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_852010_kt.pdf |title=Klimatafel von La Paz – El Alto (Int. Flugh.) / Bolivien |work=Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |language=de |access-date=24 January 2016 |archive-date=24 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224173416/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_852010_kt.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Meteostat<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://meteostat.net/en/station/85201
|title= La Paz / Alto Climate : Temperature 1991-2020
|publisher=Meteostat
|access-date=18 December 2024}}</ref>
|source 2 = Meteo Climat (extremes)<ref name="meteoclimat">{{cite web |url=http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=75 |title=Station La Paz |publisher=Meteo Climat |language=fr |access-date=11 June 2016 |archive-date=29 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329045129/http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=75 |url-status=live }}</ref> Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia (snowy days 1981–2010)<ref name="SENAMHI">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921144951/http://senamhi.gob.bo/index.php/sismet |archive-date=21 September 2019 |url=http://senamhi.gob.bo/index.php/sismet |title=Base de datos Sistema Meteorológico–SISMET |publisher=Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia |language=es |access-date=22 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|location = La Paz (Laikakota Park), elevation {{convert|3650|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1945–present)
|collapsed = 
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 26.5
|Feb record high C = 25.5
|Mar record high C = 26.0
|Apr record high C = 25.0
|May record high C = 25.0
|Jun record high C = 23.8
|Jul record high C = 23.1
|Aug record high C = 24.3
|Sep record high C = 26.6
|Oct record high C = 26.5
|Nov record high C = 27.1
|Dec record high C = 27.2
|year record high C = 27.2
|Jan high C = 18.5
|Feb high C = 18.7
|Mar high C = 18.9
|Apr high C = 19.2
|May high C = 19.1
|Jun high C = 17.8
|Jul high C = 17.4
|Aug high C = 18.4
|Sep high C = 19.0
|Oct high C = 19.8
|Nov high C = 20.4
|Dec high C = 20.0
|year high C = 18.9
|Jan mean C = 12.9
|Feb mean C = 13.0
|Mar mean C = 13.0
|Apr mean C = 12.7
|May mean C = 11.8
|Jun mean C = 10.5
|Jul mean C = 10.1
|Aug mean C = 11.0
|Sep mean C = 11.9
|Oct mean C = 13.0
|Nov mean C = 13.7
|Dec mean C = 13.7
|year mean C =12.3
|Jan low C = 7.4
|Feb low C = 7.3
|Mar low C = 7.2
|Apr low C = 6.3
|May low C = 4.6
|Jun low C = 3.3
|Jul low C = 2.8
|Aug low C = 3.7
|Sep low C = 4.8
|Oct low C = 6.2
|Nov low C = 7.0
|Dec low C = 7.5
|year low C = 5.7
|Jan record low C = 1.5
|Feb record low C = 2.0
|Mar record low C = 1.1
|Apr record low C = 0.6
|May record low C = -2.0
|Jun record low C = -6.0
|Jul record low C = -2.8
|Aug record low C = -5.0
|Sep record low C = -0.8
|Oct record low C = 0.0
|Nov record low C = 0.5
|Dec record low C = 1.0
|year record low C = -6.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 125.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 81.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 67.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 27.1
|May precipitation mm = 8.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 7.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 5.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 12.1
|Sep precipitation mm = 24.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 37.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 43.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 82.3
|year precipitation mm = 523.8
|Jan precipitation days = 21.3
|Feb precipitation days = 17.0
|Mar precipitation days = 15.4
|Apr precipitation days = 8.6
|May precipitation days = 3.5
|Jun precipitation days = 2.2
|Jul precipitation days = 2.1
|Aug precipitation days = 3.9
|Sep precipitation days = 6.7
|Oct precipitation days = 10.7
|Nov precipitation days = 11.4
|Dec precipitation days = 16.1
|year precipitation days = 119.0
|Jan humidity = 72.0
|Feb humidity = 72.2
|Mar humidity = 70.5
|Apr humidity = 66.2
|May humidity = 54.8
|Jun humidity = 48.3
|Jul humidity = 50.4
|Aug humidity = 52.0
|Sep humidity = 58.1
|Oct humidity = 56.5
|Nov humidity = 58.8
|Dec humidity = 64.3
|year humidity = 60.0
<!-- based on the data taken from Insolacion Total (Hrs/sol).-->
|Jan sun = 145.4
|Feb sun = 158.4
|Mar sun = 167.9
|Apr sun = 187.6
|May sun = 245.7
|Jun sun = 238.3
|Jul sun = 240.9
|Aug sun = 250.1
|Sep sun = 232.0
|Oct sun = 215.5
|Nov sun = 181.5
|Dec sun = 171.2
|year sun =
<!-- based on the data taken from Insolacion Media (Hrs/sol).-->
|Jand sun = 5.0
|Febd sun = 5.9
|Mard sun = 5.9
|Aprd sun = 6.6
|Mayd sun = 8.2
|Jund sun = 8.2
|Juld sun = 8.8
|Augd sun = 8.5
|Sepd sun = 8.2
|Octd sun = 7.4
|Novd sun = 6.8
|Decd sun = 6.0
|yeard sun =
|source 1 = Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia<ref name="SENAMHI" />
|date = July 2019
}}