ORURO

The department of Oruro is  rich in folklore, pre-Columbian, ethnic and nature. It was the birthplace of one of the oldest civilizations of America "The Urus," and later was one of the most important kernels of Hearing Charcas, a product of the intense mining activity of the colony, especially in the capital, famous for its rich and abundant mines Tin, who made famous the world over.

It has significant archaeological and historical sites, ethnic groups, churches and landscapes, among which are:

Salinas de Garci Mendoza, the main entrance gate to the Salar de Uyuni, located 279 km. of the capital, has beautiful natural landscapes such as the Majestic Salt Thunupa and the legendary volcano of the same name.

Sajama National Park, is the first Protected Area of Bolivia. It is located in the far northwest of the department of Oruro, in full western Cordillera of the Andes, making border with Chile.

His identity is marked by the volcano Nevado Sajama to 6542 m. and for the rest of the mountains around it among which are spread wide forests and grasslands in which llamas and alpacas live alongside wildlife. The groves of Queñua, the tree that grows at higher altitude in the world, and grasses are bofedales its flora and fauna consists of species such as vizcacha, the Suri (Andean ostrich) and the vicuña.

The Salt Coipasa, located 225 km. the city of Oruro, is part of the tourist route interlayer. It has an interior lake where the waters of the legendary Lauca River, surrounded by imposing hills and forests of cactus.

In the vicinity of the Salt Coipasa inhabits one of the oldest cultures of the continent, ethnicity Chipaya, home Uru where you can observe its typical houses built with circular "Tepes", his unique dress, the braids of women and their enigmatic language.

Among the highlights colonial architecture of the church Curahuara Carangas which has an impressive mural paintings with religious motives.

Alcaya reproductions of the Citadel, is an archaeological site where there are impressive mummies, were built in circular stone dwellings, agricultural terraces a unique underground cemetery, as well as beautiful pieces of pottery, basketry and textiles.

The Oruro Carnival is a great popular celebration held each year in the city of Oruro and one of the largest demonstrations of folk art and traditional Andean culture. In 2001 UNESCO declared the carnival as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity".

This celebration coincides with the festival Ito Uru for the Indians. Using costumes themselves from the Andean cultures, the festival focuses on hold to the Pachamama, although the influence of the Catholic Church the object of worship was transformed into Our Lady of Socavón,'s own Christian syncretism.

On the orders of the Spanish colonial government in Lima, the celebrations were banned throughout the seventeenth century, but remained and revived by the peoples under the rituals of the Catholic Feast of Candlemas (or purification of the Virgin). Christian icons and replaced with native deities, with the change of the saints for the minor elements of the Incan cosmology.

Tradition says that in 1789 miraculously appeared an image of the Virgin in the Socavón of the richest silver mine in Oruro, and since then the celebration focused on the cult of the Virgin Socavón (also known as "Our Lady of the Candelaria "). At present, the most important celebrations are centered at the Shrine of Socavón.

During the festival which takes place on Saturday and Sunday of Carnival folk groups like the devil that represents the struggle between good and evil, roam the city along a route that covers an area of four kilometers, accompanied by musical bands and large number of celebrants. Also highlights the Caporales, the Morenada, the Sicuris-Suri, the Llamerada, the Kullawada, the Waca-Waca, Pujllay and Tinku, among others.

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