La Paz, Bolivia 2002

Bolivia is called the "Tibet of South America." It has earned this nickname because of its high arid plateau, the Altiplano, as well as its intact indigenous culture. These people live a very tough yet simple existance. Traditional livelihoods include herding, farming, and weaving. Set amongst the high glaciated mountains of the Andes in the west, the highlanders brave intense sun and bitter cold. To the east the high mountains drop into cloud forests which further drop into the Amazon Basin. Landlocked and diverse, Bolivia holds wisdom and character evolved over centuries.