Patacamaya

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Patacamaya
Patacamaya Location in Bolivia
Coordinates: 17°14′S 67°55′W / 17.233°S 67.917°W / -17.233; -67.917
Country	Bolivia
Department	La Paz Department
Province	Aroma Province
Population
- Total	12,260 (est)

Patacamaya is a city in Bolivia, situated in the Aroma Province in the La Paz Department. Patacamaya lies in the Altiplano, approximately 100 km. Southeast of La Paz. Patacamaya contains the intersection between 'Carretera 1' which goes from La Paz to Oruro, as well as Cochabamba, and the 'Carretera Arica-La Paz'. The 'Tambo Quemado' highway is one of the most important international roads that travels through Bolivia. ^[1][2]

[edit] Observatory

Situated 3789 meters above sea level, Patacamaya is a prime location for astronomical observation. Its lightly-populated area keeps light pollution at a minimum, making it an ideal place for an observatory. The 'Observatorio de Patacamaya' was built in 1973 with help of the Soviets. However, since 1983, the UMSA (Universidad Mayor de San Andres) has been maintaining the observatory.

The telescope in the observatory is a Celestron telescope of 40cm diameter. The observatory also contains two astro-cameras an AFU-75, and CCD SBIG ST-5 among other astronomical equipment. This equipment has been extremely useful for students researching such events as the passing of Halley's Comet and the Shoemaker Levy 9 Comet.^[3]

[edit] Economy

Apart from the Observatory, Patacamaya has some other smaller sources of income including a weekly Sunday fair. Agriculture in the area consists mainly of potatoes.

Patacamaya is also home to the military unit 'Batallon de Tanques I Calama.'

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.maplandia.com/bolivia/la-paz/aroma/patacamaya/
2. ^ http://www.viajes-a.net/ciudad/Patacamaya-3850.htm
3. ^ http://fcpn.umsa.bo/fcpn/app?service=page/Planetarium_Ob0100

v • d • e La Paz Department Capital: La Paz Provinces Abel Iturralde • Aroma • Bautista Saavedra • Caranavi • Camacho • Franz Tamayo • Gualberto Villarroel • Ingavi • Inquisivi • José Manuel Pando • Larecaja • Loayza • Los Andes • Manco Kapac • Murillo • Muñecas • Nor Yungas • Omasuyos • Pacajes • Sud Yungas Municipalities (and seats) Achacachi (Achacachi)  • Achocalla (Achocalla)  • Ancoraimes (Ancoraimes)  • Apolo (Apolo)  • Aucapata (Aucapata)  • Ayata (Ayata)  • Ayo Ayo (Ayo Ayo)  • Batallas (Batallas)  • Cairoma (Cairoma)  • Cajuata (Cajuata)  • Calacoto (Calacoto)  • Calamarca (Calamarca)  • Caquiaviri (Caquiaviri)  • Caranavi (Caranavi)  • Catacora (Catacora)  • Chacarilla (Chacarilla)  • Charaña (Charaña)  • Chulumani (Chulumani)  • Chuma (Chuma)  • Collana (Collana)  • Colquencha (Colquencha)  • Colquiri (Colquiri)  • Comanche (Comanche)  • Combaya (Combaya)  • Copacabana (Copacabana)  • Coripata (Coripata)  • Coro Coro (Coro Coro)  • Coroico (Coroico)  • Curva (Curva)  • Desaguadero (Desaguadero)  • El Alto (El Alto)  • General Juan José Pérez (Charazani)  • Guanay (Guanay)  • Guaqui (Guaqui)  • Ichoca (Ichoca)  • Inquisivi (Inquisivi)  • Irupana (Irupana)  • Ixiamas (Ixiamas)  • Jesús de Machaca (Jesús de Machaca)  • La Asunta (La Asunta)  • La Paz (La Paz)  • Laja (Laja)  • Licoma Pampa (Licoma)  • Luribay (Luribay)  • Malla (Malla)  • Mapiri (Mapiri)  • Mecapaca (Mecapaca)  • Mocomoco (Mocomoco)  • Nazacara de Pacajes (Nazacara)  • Palca (Palca)  • Palos Blancos (Palos Blancos)  • Papel Pampa (Papel Pampa)  • Patacamaya (Patacamaya)  • Pelechuco (Pelechuco)  • Pucarani (Pucarani)  • Puerto Acosta (Puerto Acosta)  • Puerto Carabuco (Puerto Carabuco)  • Puerto Pérez (Puerto Perez)  • Quiabaya (Quiabaya)  • Quime (Quime)  • San Andrés de Machaca (San Andrés de Machaca)  • San Buenaventura (San Buenaventura)  • San Pedro de Curahuara (San Pedro de Curahuara de Carangas)  • San Pedro de Tiquina (San Pedro de Tiquina)  • Santiago de Callapa (Callapa)  • Santiago de Machaca (Santiago de Machaca)  • Sapahaqui (Sapahaqui)  • Sica Sica (Sica Sica)  • Sorata (Sorata)  • Tacacoma (Tacacoma)  • Taraco (Taraco)  • Teoponte (Teoponte)  • Tiwanaku (Tiwanaku)  • Tipuani (Tipuani)  • Tito Yupanqui (Tito Yupanqui)  • Umala (Umala)  • Viacha (Viacha)  • Waldo Ballivián (Tumarapi)  • Yaco (Yaco)  • Yanacachi (Yanacachi) Mountains Alpamayo Chico  • Condoriri  • Anallajsi  • Ancohuma  • Chachacomani  • Chacaltaya  • Illampu  • Illimani  • Huayna Potosí  • Mururata Protected areas Apolobamba  • Cotapata  • Madidi  • Pilón Lajas