Oruro Department

Oruro Department spans across 53,588 square kilometers of the Bolivian Altiplano, hosting salt flats, volcanoes, and the Sajama National Park with its highest peak.

The department gained economic importance during the 19th century through extensive silver and tin mining activities, which shaped its development and regional trade networks.

The department celebrates the UNESCO-recognized Carnival in February, featuring traditional dances, music performances, and indigenous Andean costumes representing local folklore.

The region maintains a network of roads connecting sixteen provinces, with regular bus services operating between major cities and the capital Oruro at 3,729 meters elevation.

The department houses the Coipasa Salt Plain and contains natural hot springs at the base of Nevado Sajama, where temperatures reach 30 degrees Celsius.

Location: Bolivia

Capital city: Oruro

Elevation above the sea: 3,729 m

Part of: South America Midwest Integrated Zone

Shares border with: La Paz Department, Cochabamba Department, Potosí Department, Arica y Parinacota Region, Tarapacá Region

Website: http://preforuro.gov.bo

GPS coordinates: -18.66667,-67.66667

Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:44