Bolivia is a beautiful, geographically diverse, multiethnic, and democratic country in the heart of South America. This landlocked country shares its borders with Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay and Argentina to the south, Chile to the south west, and Peru to the west. Santa Cruz de la Sierra is the largest city of Bolivia. More than 60% of the population of Bolivia speaks Spanish, followed by Quechua: 21.2%, Aymara: 14.6%. The highest navigable lake in the world is found in Bolivia at 3810 meters above sea level. It takes six hours to cross Lake Titicaca on a fast hydrofoil. It’s also one of the deepest lakes in the world. Bolivia shares with Peru control of Lake Titicaca. The largest deposit of salt on the planet is also found in Bolivia. The Salar de Uyuni contain over 64 million tons of salt. The country is home to 40% of all animal and plant life in the world.

3,000 Year Old Yareta Plant

Arbol de Piedra, Bolivia

Sol de Mañana Geysers, Bolivia

Laguna Blanca, Bolivia

Sol de Mañana Geysers, Bolivia

Laguna Verde, Bolivia

Hexagons, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Mating Ritual: James’s Flamingo

View from the bus: Lake Titicaca to La Paz

credit: Pedro Szekely

More than 1,200 Sailors and Marines are participating in CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training) Thailand. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor Leste. It is designed to enhance maritime security skills and operational cohesiveness among participating forces.

credit: Official U.S. Navy Page
photo by Cpl. John C. Lamb