Sorata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sorata
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Panoramic view of Sorata
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 Sorata
Location in Bolivia
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| Country |  Bolivia |
| Department |  La Paz Department |
| Province | Larecaja Province |
| Municipality | Sorata Municipality |
| Canton | Sorata Canton |
| Elevation | 8,786 ft (2,678 m) |
| Population
(2029)
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| • Total | 2,217 |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (BOT) |
Sorata (in the Aymara language, Surat'a) is a charming small town in the La Paz Department of Bolivia. It is located in the amazing Andes mountains. You can find it northwest of the city of La Paz and east of Lake Titicaca.
Sorata is the main town for the Larecaja Province and the Sorata Municipality. In 2001, about 2,217 people lived there. It's a popular spot for weekend trips and a great starting point for hikers. The town has several small hotels, including one that used to be a fancy Italian mansion.
Contents
History of Sorata
Sorata's Role in Colonial Times
During the time of the Spanish Empire, Sorata was an important link. It connected the Alto Beni gold fields and rubber farms to other areas. It also served as a gateway to the huge Amazon Basin.
The Great Siege of 1781
In August 1781, Sorata faced a very unusual attack. A leader named Andres, who was the nephew of Tupac Amaru, led about 16,000 soldiers. They built large walls, called dikes, above the town.
These dikes collected water flowing down from the nearby mountain, Illampu. Once the dikes were full, the soldiers opened them. A huge flood of water washed away the town.
Exploring Sorata's Town Life
Sorata Today: A Tourist Gem
Sorata is no longer a big trading center. There is now a more direct road from La Paz to the Yungas region. Today, Sorata is best known to tourists, trekkers, and mountain climbers. They come to visit this beautiful, once-hidden place.
The Heart of Sorata: Plaza General Enrique Penaranda
The main square in Sorata is called Plaza General Enrique Penaranda. It is the town's most beautiful spot. The square has tall date palms and perfectly kept gardens. The town's main festival happens here on September 14th.
Historic Buildings in Sorata
A notable building is Casa Gunthere. This historic mansion was built in 1895. It was once the home of the Richter family, who traded in quinine. Today, it is a hotel called Residencial Sorata.
Sorata's Mountain Neighbors
Sorata is located at the base of two impressive mountains. These are Illampu, which is 6,368 meters (20,892 feet) high, and Janq'u Uma, which is 6,427 meters (21,086 feet) high. These mountains are the northern part of the Cordillera Real mountain range.
There is some debate about which mountain is taller, Janq'u Uma or Illimani, which is near La Paz. Most reliable measurements show Janq'u Uma is a bit lower than Illimani. However, surveys in the area are not perfect, so people in both areas often disagree about which mountain is higher.
Sorata's Climate
Sorata has a special kind of subtropical highland climate. This means it has features of an oceanic climate. It also has big changes in temperature between day and night.
| Climate data for Sorata, elevation 2,647 m (8,684 ft) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 21.3 (70.3) |
20.8 (69.4) |
21.1 (70.0) |
21.4 (70.5) |
20.9 (69.6) |
20.4 (68.7) |
20.1 (68.2) |
21.3 (70.3) |
22.2 (72.0) |
23.0 (73.4) |
22.9 (73.2) |
22.2 (72.0) |
21.5 (70.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 15.7 (60.3) |
15.6 (60.1) |
15.4 (59.7) |
15.3 (59.5) |
14.4 (57.9) |
13.7 (56.7) |
13.4 (56.1) |
14.5 (58.1) |
15.4 (59.7) |
16.2 (61.2) |
16.4 (61.5) |
16.0 (60.8) |
15.2 (59.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.1 (50.2) |
10.3 (50.5) |
9.8 (49.6) |
9.2 (48.6) |
8.0 (46.4) |
7.0 (44.6) |
6.7 (44.1) |
7.8 (46.0) |
8.7 (47.7) |
9.4 (48.9) |
9.9 (49.8) |
9.9 (49.8) |
8.9 (48.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 178.4 (7.02) |
160.5 (6.32) |
142.1 (5.59) |
53.2 (2.09) |
19.2 (0.76) |
8.0 (0.31) |
6.2 (0.24) |
14.7 (0.58) |
34.1 (1.34) |
53.7 (2.11) |
63.6 (2.50) |
116.9 (4.60) |
850.6 (33.46) |
| Average precipitation days | 20.5 | 18.8 | 18.8 | 9.0 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 6.3 | 8.6 | 9.7 | 15.9 | 120.2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 84.1 | 84.9 | 84.3 | 81.6 | 77.6 | 73.4 | 75.2 | 75.0 | 75.9 | 76.7 | 78.0 | 81.0 | 79.0 |
| Source: Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Sorata para niños
