Desaguadero Municipality is an administrative subdivision of Bolivia located in the Ingavi Province of the La Paz Department. It is one of the five municipal sections that constitute the province, and its administrative seat is the town of Desaguadero, which lies on the banks of the Desaguadero River at the international border with Peru.
Geography
The municipality is situated in the Altiplano region of the central Andes, at an elevation of roughly 3,800 metres (12,500 ft) above sea level. The Desaguadero River, which flows from Lake Titicaca to Lake Poopó, forms the natural boundary between Bolivia and Peru in the vicinity of the municipal seat. The surrounding terrain consists of high‑altitude grasslands (puna) and occasional valleys that support limited agriculture and livestock grazing.
Administrative Structure
As a Bolivian municipality, Desaguadero is governed by an elected mayor (alcalde) and a municipal council. It is part of the larger Ingavi Province, which in turn belongs to the La Paz Department. The municipality’s jurisdiction includes the urban area of Desaguadero town and a number of rural communities and hamlets scattered throughout the surrounding plateau.
Demographics
Population data for the municipality are drawn from national censuses. The most recent publicly available figures (from the 2001 census) reported a population of approximately 20 000 inhabitants, comprising primarily Aymara‑speaking indigenous peoples, with a minority of mestizo residents. Updated demographic statistics from later censuses have not been incorporated into this entry.
Economy
The local economy is based on cross‑border trade, small‑scale agriculture, livestock husbandry (principally llamas, alpacas, and cattle), and fishing in the Desaguadero River. The town of Desaguadero functions as an official border crossing point, facilitating the movement of goods and people between Bolivia and Peru. Informal markets and transport services are also significant contributors to livelihoods in the area.
Transportation and Infrastructure
Desaguadero is connected to other parts of the La Paz Department by road, including a segment of the national Route 2 that links La Paz to the border crossing. Public and private bus services operate between the town and nearby urban centers such as El Alto and La Paz. Basic infrastructure such as electricity, water supply, and telecommunications is present in the municipal seat, though service levels in outlying rural communities may be limited.
Culture and Society
The municipality’s cultural landscape reflects the traditions of the Aymara people, including festivals, music, and crafts. Religious practices are predominantly Roman Catholic, often interwoven with indigenous rites. The bilingual use of Spanish and Aymara is common in public life and education.
Cross‑border Relations
The Bolivian town of Desaguadero is directly opposite the Peruvian town of Desaguadero in the Puno Region. The two municipalities share a customs and immigration checkpoint that regulates bilateral movement. Cooperation between the neighboring jurisdictions includes coordination on health services, trade, and security matters.
References
- Bolivian National Institute of Statistics (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, INE) – Census data.
- Government of the La Paz Department – Administrative division records.
- Geographic and cartographic sources detailing the position of the Desaguadero River and the Bolivia‑Peru border.
Note: Specific, up‑to‑date population figures and detailed economic statistics are not available in the current public domain; consequently, the entry reflects the most reliable information accessible as of the latest cited sources.