Bolivia

Named for South America's famed independence fighter Simon Bolivar, landlocked Bolivia rests in the center of the continent. With its snowy mountain peaks, tropical rain forests, and grasslands, the nation holds vast mineral resources and great natural beauty. But because of a long history of unstable, short-lived governments, Bolivia remains one of the least-developed and poorest countries in Latin America. The Andes Mountain range dominates the western third of Bolivia, where most of its 8 million people live. More than half are Native Americans, who celebrate a culture rich in ancient traditions. Although democratic government returned in the 1980s, Bolivia faces enormous future challenges, including the elimination of its illegal drug trade and reduction of its dee-seated poverty. Book jacket.