Rising 1,700 higher than La Paz, at an elevation of 13,615 feet, with a population of almost 1 million people, is the highest major metropolis in the world, El Alto. I bet you did not know that! La Paz has long had a geography of status. Contrary to the U.S., the wealthiest residents live at the bottom of the valley, and the poorer ones live higher up. On top of everything is El Alto, whose name means “the Heights.” Most of the population of El Alto consists of Aymara Indians. With its close proximity to La Paz it is very densely populated. Its streets are teeming with traffic. |
