Tarija Department, Department with wine production in southeastern Bolivia.
Tarija Department is an administrative territory in southeastern Bolivia that borders Argentina and Paraguay, encompassing mountains, valleys, and rolling terrain. It divides into six provinces, with Tarija city serving as capital and housing the main government buildings and services.
Spanish settlers founded this territory in 1574 as part of the Viceroyalty of Peru. After independence, it belonged to Argentina for more than 80 years before passing to Bolivia in 1898 through negotiations.
The name Tarija may derive from Spanish conquistador Francisco de Tarija, whose legacy appears in colonial-era architecture throughout the territory. Visitors notice the contrast between vineyards on the outskirts and traditional markets where locals sell cheese and dried fruit.
Flights arrive at Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza Airport, linking the capital with other Bolivian cities. Bus routes cross the provinces and connect smaller towns to regional centers, with travel times varying by terrain.
The valleys here hold some of South America's highest-elevation vineyards, planted on steep slopes and producing grapes with a particular character. Natural gas deposits lie beneath much of the territory and have shaped the local economy for decades.
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