Cochabamba is a city in central Bolivia, located in a valley bearing the same name in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and is the third largest city in Bolivia with an urban population of 608,276 (2008)[1] and a metropolitan population of more than 1,000,000 people. The name derives from a compound of the Quechua words qucha, meaning "lake", and pampa, "open plain". Residents of the city and surrounding areas are commonly referred to as Cochabambinos. Cochabamba is known as the "City of Eternal Spring" and "The Garden City" due to its spring-like temperatures year round.
South America's biggest open-air market, called La Cancha, is open seven days a week in Cochabamba, with Wednesday and Saturday being the busiest days of operation. Here merchants sell everything imaginable from witchcraft talismans to LCD TVs and iPods. The market is organised and divided in areas depending on the wares being sold.
Perched atop the San Pedro hill, the 33 m (109 ft) tall statue of the Cristo de la Concordia is the tallest of its kind in the world (Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is taller only when they include the stone base in their height measurement). Visitors can climb inside up to the arms for a panoramic view of the city.
South America's biggest open-air market, called La Cancha, is open seven days a week in Cochabamba, with Wednesday and Saturday being the busiest days of operation. Here merchants sell everything imaginable from witchcraft talismans to LCD TVs and iPods. The market is organised and divided in areas depending on the wares being sold.
Perched atop the San Pedro hill, the 33 m (109 ft) tall statue of the Cristo de la Concordia is the tallest of its kind in the world (Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro is taller only when they include the stone base in their height measurement). Visitors can climb inside up to the arms for a panoramic view of the city.
