Santa Cruz Department

Santa Cruz Department extends across 370,621 square kilometers of varied terrain, from sub-Andean ranges to tropical lowlands near the Brazilian and Paraguayan borders.

The department gained its administrative status in 1826, following Bolivia's independence, and developed from a remote territory into the country's primary economic center.

The population includes Mestizo, European descendants, and indigenous communities, with regional traditions reflected through year-round agricultural festivals and local music.

The department connects to other regions through Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra and maintains an extensive network of highways.

El Mutún in German Busch Province contains the second-largest iron ore deposit globally, with reserves estimated at 40 billion tons.

Location: Bolivia

Inception: 1516

Capital city: Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Elevation above the sea: 253 m

Part of: South America Midwest Integrated Zone

Shares border with: Beni Department, Cochabamba Department, Chuquisaca Department, Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Alto Paraguay, Boquerón Department

Website: http://santacruz.gob.bo

GPS coordinates: -17.33333,-61.50000

Latest update: May 27, 2025 20:26