# Sorata

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For other uses, see [Sorata (disambiguation)](/source/Sorata_(disambiguation)).

Place in La Paz Department, Bolivia

Sorata Panoramic view of Sorata Sorata Location within Bolivia Coordinates: 15°46′S 68°38′W / 15.767°S 68.633°W / -15.767; -68.633 Country Bolivia Department La Paz Department Province Larecaja Province Municipality Sorata Municipality Canton Sorata Canton Elevation 8,786 ft (2,678 m) Population (2029) • Total 2,217 Time zone UTC-4 (BOT)

**Sorata** ([Aymara](/source/Aymara_language): *Surat'a*) is a small town in the [La Paz Department](/source/La_Paz_Department%2C_Bolivia) in the [Bolivian](/source/Bolivia) [Andes](/source/Andes), northwest of the city of [La Paz](/source/La_Paz) and east of [Lake Titicaca](/source/Lake_Titicaca). It is the seat of the [Larecaja Province](/source/Larecaja_Province) and the [Sorata Municipality](/source/Sorata_Municipality). At the time of census 2001 it had a population of 2,217.[1] It is a somewhat popular weekend getaway and a relaxing base camp for a growing number of [hikers](/source/Hiker). It includes several small hotels, including a converted Italian mansion.

## History

In [colonial](/source/Spanish_Empire) days, Sorata provided a link to the Alto Beni [goldfields](/source/Gold) and [rubber](/source/Rubber) plantations, and a gateway to the [Amazon Basin](/source/Amazon_Basin). In August 1781 it was the site of an unorthodox siege by the nephew of [Tupac Amaru](/source/Tupac_Amaru), Andres, and his 16,000 soldiers. They constructed [dikes](/source/Dike_(construction)) above the town, and when these had been filled with runoff from the slopes of the nearby peak [Illampu](/source/Illampu), they opened the floodgates and the town was washed away.[2][3]

## Cityscape

Sorata is no longer a major commercial center, as there is now a more direct route to the [Yungas](/source/Yungas) from [La Paz](/source/La_Paz). Today it is best known to foreign tourists, trekkers, and climbers, who visit this formerly little-known destination. The main square, Plaza General Enrique Penaranda, is Sorata's showcase. It is graced by towering date palms and immaculate gardens. The main town fiesta is held on September 14. Of note is Casa Gunthere, a historic mansion that now houses the Residencial Sorata. It was built in 1895 as the home of the Richters, a [quinine](/source/Quinine) trading family.

Sorata is located at the base of the mountains [Illampu](/source/Illampu), 6,368 m (20,892 ft), and [Janq'u Uma](/source/Janq'u_Uma), 6,427 m (21,086 ft), which are the northern anchors of the [Cordillera Real](/source/Cordillera_Real_(Bolivia)). By the most reliable figures, Janq'u Uma is 11 m (36 ft) lower than [Illimani](/source/Illimani), near La Paz, but surveys in the area are imperfect, and there is much debate between the citizens of both areas as to which mountain is higher.

## Climate

Sorata features an unusual [subtropical highland climate](/source/Subtropical_highland_climate), with oceanic elements and high levels of diurnal temperature variation.

Climate data for Sorata, elevation 2,647 m (8,684 ft) 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[4][5]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [World-Gazetteer](http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-38&srt=npan&col=aohdq&pt=c&va=x)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-lp_2-0)** Deanna Swaney, Robert Strauss, *Bolivia* (Second Edition), Lonely Planet, 1992.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-klein_3-0)** The siege is mentioned in Herbert S. Klein, *Bolivia: the evolution of a multi-ethnic society* (second edition), Oxford, 1992; however that book makes no mention of the tactic of flooding the town.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SENAMHI_4-0)** ["Base de datos Sistema Meteorológico–SISMET"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180607025840/http://senamhi.gob.bo/index.php/sismet) (in Spanish). Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia. Archived from [the original](http://senamhi.gob.bo/index.php/sismet) on 7 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SENAMHI2_5-0)** ["índices climáticos para 149 estaciones meteorológicas en Bolivia"](https://www.scribd.com/document/542708736/Indices-Agrometeorologicos-149-Estaciones) (in Spanish). Servicio Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología de Bolivia. Retrieved 13 June 2024.

[15°46′24″S 68°38′53″W / 15.77333°S 68.64806°W / -15.77333; -68.64806](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Sorata&params=15_46_24_S_68_38_53_W_region:BO_type:city(5000))

v t 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) Alto Beni (Caserío Nueve) 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) Escoma (Escoma) General Juan José Pérez (Charazani) Guanay (Guanay) Guaqui (Guaqui) Huarina (Huarina) 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 Huata (Santiago de Huata) 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) Umanata (Umanata) Viacha (Viacha) Waldo Ballivián (Tumarapi) Yaco (Yaco) Yanacachi (Yanacachi) Mountains Anallajsi Ancohuma Chacaltaya Chachakumani Chawpi Urqu Ch'iyar Juqhu Illampu Illimani Jach'a Khunu Qullu Jach'a Waracha Janq'u Qullu Kunturiri (Los Andes) Kunturiri (Bolivia-Chile) Layqa Qullu Machu Such'i Qhuchi Mururata Phaq'u Kiwuta Qalsata Sirk'i Qullu Uma Jalanta Wayna Khunu Qullu Wayna Potosí Wila Lluxi Wiluyu Janq'u Uma Protected areas Apolobamba Cotapata Madidi Pilón Lajas

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sorata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorata) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorata?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.