Mecapaca Municipality

{{Infobox settlement  | official_name = Mecapaca | other_name = | native_name = | nickname = | settlement_type = Municipality | motto =  | image_skyline = | imagesize = 250px | image_caption = | image_flag = Flag of Mecapaca, Bolivia.svg | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y = | pushpin_map = Bolivia | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_map_caption = Location of the Mecapaca Municipality within Bolivia | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[Image:Flag of Bolivia.svg|25px]] [[Bolivia]] | subdivision_type1 = [[Departments of Bolivia|Department]] | subdivision_name1 = [[La Paz Department (Bolivia)|La Paz Department]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Bolivia|Province]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Pedro Domingo Murillo Province]] | seat_type = Seat | seat = [[Mecapaca]] | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = José Arancibia Quisbert (2007) | leader_title1 = President | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | established_title = Foundation | established_date = | established_title2 =  | established_date2 = | established_title3 =  | established_date3 =  | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Imperial  | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 526  | area_land_km2 =  | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_sq_mi =  | population_as_of = 2012 | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 16027 | population_density_km2 = | population_density_sq_mi = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_blank1_title = Ethnicities | population_blank1 = | population_blank2_title = Religions | population_blank2 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi =  | timezone = BOT | utc_offset = -4 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|16|43|0|S|67|59|0|W|region:BO|display=inline,title}} | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m = 3000 | elevation_ft =  | postal_code_type =  | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = | blank_info = | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Mecapaca Municipality''' is the second [[Municipalities of Bolivia|municipal section]] of the [[Pedro Domingo Murillo Province]] in the [[La Paz Department (Bolivia)|La Paz Department]], [[Bolivia]]. Its seat is [[Mecapaca]]. It is situated 28 km from the city of [[La Paz]], the capital of the department and the seat of government for the country, and it stands at an elevation of 2,850 meters above sea level. According to the 2012 national [[2012 Bolivian census|census]], the municipality of Mecapaca has a population of 16,027 inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Instituto Nacional de Estadística |url=https://www.ine.gob.bo/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=INE |language=es}}</ref>

== History == During the colonial era, the Mecapaca Valleys were the Olympus for new immigrants, where the wealthiest people built their large houses.

== Geography == The municipality of Mecapaca is located on the edge of the Bolivian [[Altiplano]] at an average altitude of 3,700 meters above sea level, on the western edge of the Central Andes Cordillera, and is traversed from northwest to southeast by the [[Choqueyapu River]].

It is located in the southern part of the Murillo province and borders the municipalities of La Paz to the north, [[Achocalla Municipality|Achocalla]] to the west, [[Calamarca Municipality|Calamarca]] in the [[Aroma Province]] to the southwest, [[Sapahaqui Municipality|Sapahaqui]] in the [[Loayza Province|Loayza province]] to the south, and [[Palca Municipality|Palca]] to the east.

The region has a marked diurnal climate, with temperature fluctuations throughout the day being greater than those throughout the year.

The average annual temperature of the municipality is 16°C, with monthly average temperatures slightly varying from just under 14°C in June/July to just under 18°C in November. The annual precipitation is 550 mm, with monthly precipitation ranging from less than 15 mm from May to August to 120 mm in January.

== Transport == Mecapaca is 25 kilometers by road south of La Paz, the seat of the government of Bolivia. A rural road runs south from La Paz, passing through the Valley of the Moon and the town of Mallasa on the left bank of the Choqueyapu River until reaching Mecapaca.

== Tourist Attractions == Mecapaca has a mountainous topography, among its attractions are:

* Mallasa Mecapaca Flower Fair * Mecapaca Village * Valencia * Calvario de Mecapaca

Additionally, Mecapaca has infrastructure for lodging services:

* DM Hotel Andino Resort & Spa: A colonial hacienda with 5 stars, featuring a spa, an outdoor pool, and hot springs. * Hotel Oberland: Located 300 meters from the Valley of the Moon, with an indoor pool covered by a dome, a hot tub, free [[WiFi]], and a large garden.

== See also == * [[P'iq'iñ Q'ara (Mecapaca)|P'iq'iñ Q'ara]]

== References == {{reflist}} * [http://www.ine.gov.bo/comunitaria/comunitariaVer.aspx?Depto=02&Prov=06&Seccion=03 www.ine.gov.bo / census 2001: Mecapaca Municipality]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

[[Category:Municipalities of La Paz Department (Bolivia)]]