Santa Cruz, Bolivia. 4K Walk

Santa Cruz is a city in east-central Bolivia. It is located in the hot tropical lowlands at 1,365 feet (416 m) above sea level. It was founded in 1561 by Spaniards from Paraguay on the site of present-day San José de Chiquitos, but was repeatedly attacked by Indians until 1595, when it was relocated to its present site on the Pire River and renamed Santa Cruz de la Sierra In 1811 the inhabitants declared their independence from Spain. It was only temporarily recaptured by Royalist forces after the declaration of independence from Spain, and in 1950 the highway to Cochabamba was completed. The railroads serve Brazil, Argentina, and southern Bolivia, and the city's international airport is the busiest in Bolivia. Santa Cruz is the largest city in Bolivia. It is a huge city located in the middle of the tropical lowlands. Despite its size, the city is not very popular among foreign tourists. There are many reasons for this, but the most common is its location. It is located in the eastern part of Bolivia, close to the border with Brazil, and slightly off the route through Bolivia - La Paz, Potosí and Uyuni. Santa Cruz is home to several educational institutions, including the Autonomous University Gabriel René Moreno (1879). There are also museums and art galleries of natural history and ethnography. In addition, about 60 miles (100 km) southwest of Santa Cruz is Samaypata, a pre-Columbian site that was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. Population (2001) 1,113,582; (preliminary 2010) 1,616,100. This modern city is growing rapidly and feels like a city in transition: new restaurants, bars, apartment complexes and stores are everywhere, as well as a thriving local nightlife scene. In the old narrow streets of downtown, cabs and horse-drawn carriages compete with each other for a ride. In the square, old men doze over chicha (an alcoholic corn drink) and teenagers play loud music. Santa Crucenio is home to people from different periods of Bolivian history, from Russian immigrants to the Japanese community.