Landforms of Bolivia

The Altiplano is a high plateau region in west-central South America where the Andes are the widest. The bulk of the Altiplano-Puna plateau lies in Bolivia, its northern parts lie in Peru, and its southern parts lie in Chile and Argentina. The Altiplano Basin is a sedimentary basin located on the plateau.

The Andean Volcanic Belt, along the South American coast, is segmented into four main volcanic zones. These volcanoes, along the backbone of the Andes, are part of the Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific Ocean basin where earthquakes and eruptions occur due to the collision of tectonic plates.

The Beni River flows north through Bolivia after rising in the Andean slopes of the Cordillera Real. The Mamoré River is formed by numerous headwaters that drain the Llanos de Moxos. The two rivers form the Madeira River on the border with Brazil.

The Bolivian Andes is composed primarily of two ranges or cordilleras. The Cordillera Occidental is characterized by volcanic activity. The much older Cordillera Oriental, also known as the "Cordillera Real," is an impressive snow-capped series of granite mountains.

The Cordillera Occidental, or Western Cordillera, of Bolivia is a mountain range in extreme western Bolivia, forming a natural border with Chile. The range is part of the Andes Mountains system, which, in turn, is part of the American Cordillera.

The Cordillera Oriental of Bolivia is part of the Andes Mountains system. It is the easternmost of Bolivia's two main ranges and separates the lowlands of the Amazon River basin to the east from the Altiplano to the west. The northern section of the range is known as the Cordillera Real.

Lake Poopó was the second largest lake in Bolivia and, along with Lake Uru Uru, received most of its water from the Desaguadero River, which flows from Lake Titicaca. By 2016, the lakes had lost nearly all their water due to glacial melt and water diversion for mining and agriculture.

Lake Titicaca is a large, deep lake located at the northern end of the Altiplano basin, on the border of Peru and Bolivia. Lying high up in the Andes at 12,500 ft, it is the world's highest navigable lake. By volume of water and by surface area, it is the largest lake in South America.