Patacamaya

{{Infobox settlement   |official_name = Patacamaya |other_name = |native_name = Patak Amaya |nickname = |settlement_type = City |motto =  |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = |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 = |pushpin_map = Bolivia |pushpin_label_position =bottom |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Bolivia  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Bolivia}} |subdivision_type1 = [[Departments of Bolivia|Department]] |subdivision_name1 = [[La Paz Department, Bolivia|La Paz Department]] |subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Bolivia|Province]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Aroma Province]] |subdivision_type3 = [[Municipalities of Bolivia|Municipality]] |subdivision_name3 = [[Patacamaya Municipality]] |subdivision_type4 = [[Cantons of Bolivia|Canton]] |subdivision_name4 = Patacamaya Canton  |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title =  |established_date = |established_title2 =  |established_date2 = |established_title3 =  |established_date3 =  |area_magnitude = |unit_pref =Imperial  |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 =  |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 = 8414 |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 = |population_blank2 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi =  |timezone = BOT |utc_offset = -4 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|17|14|S|67|55|W|region:BO|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m = |elevation_ft =  |postal_code_type =  |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]] |blank_info = [[Semi-arid climate#Cold semi-arid climates|BSk]] |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes = }} '''Patacamaya''' or '''Patak Amaya''' ([[Aymara language|Aymara]]) is a city in [[Bolivia]], situated in the [[La Paz Department, Bolivia|La Paz Department]]. It is the seat of the [[Patacamaya Municipality]], the fifth [[Municipalities of Bolivia|municipal section]] of the [[Aroma Province]]. Patacamaya lies in the [[Altiplano]], approximately 100 km southeast of [[La Paz]]. It contains the intersection between 'Carretera 1' which goes from La Paz to [[Oruro, Bolivia|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maplandia.com/bolivia/la-paz/aroma/patacamaya/|title=Patacamaya Map - Bolivia Google Satellite Maps|first=Maplandia.com|last=Team|website=www.maplandia.com|access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viajes-a.net/ciudad/Patacamaya-3850.htm |title=Viajes a Patacamaya (Bolivia) |access-date=2009-06-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405055811/http://www.viajes-a.net/ciudad/Patacamaya-3850.htm |archive-date=2009-04-05 }}</ref>

== Name == The name of the city originated from a [[war]] that occurred in the 1920s between [[Aymaras]] and [[Quechuas]]. The word ''Patakamaya'' is a conglomeration of two words; ''pataka'' meaning "100" and ''amaya'' meaning "dead", referring to the casualties of the war.<ref>{{Ref Bertonio}}</ref>

== 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 40 cm 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fcpn.umsa.bo/fcpn/app?service=page/Planetarium_Ob0100 |title= Planetario "Max Schreier" - Umsa|website=fcpn.umsa.bo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301033721/http://fcpn.umsa.bo/fcpn/app?service=page%2FPlanetarium_Ob0100 |archive-date=2009-03-01}}</ref>

== 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.'

==Climate==

{{Weather box|width=auto |metric first=y |single line=y |collapsed = Y |location = Patacamaya, elevation {{convert|3793|m|ft|abbr=on}} |Jan high C = 19.2 |Feb high C = 19.1 |Mar high C = 19.2 |Apr high C = 19.2 |May high C = 17.8 |Jun high C = 16.5 |Jul high C = 16.3 |Aug high C = 17.4 |Sep high C = 18.5 |Oct high C = 20.4 |Nov high C = 21.1 |Dec high C = 20.4 | year high C = |Jan mean C = 12.2 |Feb mean C = 12.0 |Mar mean C = 11.8 |Apr mean C = 10.5 |May mean C = 7.5 |Jun mean C = 5.5 |Jul mean C = 5.6 |Aug mean C = 7.2 |Sep mean C = 9.2 |Oct mean C = 11.1 |Nov mean C = 12.1 |Dec mean C = 12.6 | year mean C = |Jan low C = 5.3 |Feb low C = 4.9 |Mar low C = 4.3 |Apr low C = 1.7 |May low C = -2.7 |Jun low C = -5.4 |Jul low C = -5.1 |Aug low C = -3.1 |Sep low C = -0.1 |Oct low C = 1.9 |Nov low C = 3.2 |Dec low C = 4.7 | year low C = |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 97.0 |Feb precipitation mm = 73.0 |Mar precipitation mm = 51.6 |Apr precipitation mm = 17.3 |May precipitation mm = 6.5 |Jun precipitation mm = 4.4 |Jul precipitation mm = 3.9 |Aug precipitation mm = 7.7 |Sep precipitation mm = 24.2 |Oct precipitation mm = 19.8 |Nov precipitation mm = 32.5 |Dec precipitation mm = 66.3 |year precipitation mm = | Jan precipitation days = 16.0 | Feb precipitation days = 13.3 | Mar precipitation days = 11.2 | Apr precipitation days = 4.8 | May precipitation days = 1.9 | Jun precipitation days = 1.0 | Jul precipitation days = 1.2 | Aug precipitation days = 1.9 | Sep precipitation days = 4.9 | Oct precipitation days = 5.1 | Nov precipitation days = 6.6 | Dec precipitation days = 11.8 | year precipitation days = | Jan humidity = 67.8 | Feb humidity = 67.3 | Mar humidity = 65.7 | Apr humidity = 59.2 | May humidity = 50.0 | Jun humidity = 50.3 | Jul humidity = 50.8 | Aug humidity = 50.8 | Sep humidity = 53.3 | Oct humidity = 52.8 | Nov humidity = 53.5 | Dec humidity = 59.5 | year humidity = |source 1 = Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia<ref name="SENAMHI"> {{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180607025840/http://senamhi.gob.bo/index.php/sismet | archive-date = 7 June 2018 | url = http://senamhi.gob.bo/index.php/sismet | title = Base de datos Sistema Meteorológico–SISMET | publisher = Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia | language = es | access-date = 15 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="SENAMHI2"> {{cite web | url = https://www.scribd.com/document/542708736/Indices-Agrometeorologicos-149-Estaciones | title = índices climáticos para 149 estaciones meteorológicas en Bolivia | publisher = Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia | language = es | access-date = 15 June 2024}}</ref> }}

== References == <references/>

==External links== * www.ine.gov.bo

[[Category:Populated places in La Paz Department (Bolivia)]]