Tapacarí Province
| Tapacari | |
|---|---|
| Province | |
 Location of the Tapacarí Province within Bolivia |
|
 Provinces of the Cochabamba Department |
|
| Coordinates: 17°37′S 66°05′W / 17.617°S 66.083°W | |
| Country |
 Bolivia
|
| Department | Cochabamba Department |
| Capital | Tapacari |
| Area | |
| • Total | 600 sq mi (1,500 km2) |
| Elevation | 11,500 ft (3,500 m) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 25,919 |
| • Density | 45/sq mi (17.3/km2) |
| • Ethnicities | Quechua, Aymara people |
| Area code(s) | BO.CB.TP |
Tapacarí is a province in the Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Its capital is Tapacarí. The province is located at a turnoff from the major highway that links Cochabamba and Oruro. It has traditionally been amongst the poorest in the department. Tapacarí Province and neighboring Arque Province are the two poorest of the 16 provinces that make up the department of Cochabamba.
The approximate elevation of the province is 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) above sea level. The terrain is very rough. Some of the highest mountains of the province are listed below:
The province is not further subdivided into municipalities. So Tapacarí Municipality and Tapacarí Province are identical. The province is divided into four cantons.
The majority of the people who live in Tapacarí are indigenous Quechua villagers or campesinos as they are known in Spanish. The principal economic activities of the families are agriculture and livestock, with wheat, barley, potatoes, corn and other staples being the major cash crops and sheep, goats, pigs, and guinea pigs being the most popular animals. Food is first and foremost used for domestic consumption, while the excess is traditionally sold at the local markets. While the men work in agriculture and haul the excess off to larger markets in Quillacollo and Cochabamba, the women of the Tapacari valley are known as superb weavers. The fur from the sheep is removed and dyed with traditional flowers that grow in the wild. and then spun by the women. Finally, in the same fashion that the Incas used centuries ago, it is then extended on the loom to make beautiful products. Although some of the weavings are exported, the majority is sold in the city at centric markets.
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Wikipedia