Tarija, Bolivia

Tarija
Ciudad de Tarija
Clockwise, from top: The Casa de la Cultura; a fighter airplane on display from the Chaco War; the Plaza Luis de Fuentes y Vargas; the church of San Francisco; and the Castillo Azul "Moisés Navajas".
Coat of arms Flag
Tarija Location in Bolivia
Coordinates: 21°32′S 64°44′W / 21.533°S 64.733°W / -21.533; -64.733
Country	Bolivia
Department	Tarija
Province	Cercado
Founded	July 4, 1574
Government
• Mayor	Rodrigo Paz
Elevation	1,854 m (6,083 ft)
Population (2012)
• Total	234,442
Time zone	-4 UTC
Area code(s)	+591 4
Website	Official website

Tarija or San Bernardo de la Frontera de Tarixa is a city in southern Bolivia. Founded in 1574, Tarija is both the capital and largest city within the Tarija Department, with an airport (Capitán Oriel Lea Plaza Airport, TJA) offering regular service to primary Bolivian cities, as well as a regional bus terminal with domestic and international connections. Its climate is semi-arid (BSh) with generally mild temperatures in contrast to the harsh cold of the Altiplano (i.e., La Paz) and the year-round humid heat of the Amazon Basin (i.e., Santa Cruz de la Sierra). Tarija has a population of 234,442.

Although in the local imagery the name of Tarija is said to come from a certain Francisco de Tarija or Tarifa, researched information disproves that probability. The valley, of where present-day Tarija is situated, was identified as "Tarija" and shared an articulation similar to its current pronunciation, prior to Spanish expeditions and occupation. In testimonials by members of the first group of Spaniards entering the Valley, the name of Tarija was already mentioned. This group did not include anyone by the name of Francisco de Tarija. One should also note that similar-sounding toponyms exist for surrounding places, such as Tariquia and Taxara. In 1826 the citizens of Tarija voted to become part of Bolivia. In 1807 Tarija had become separated from Upper Peru to become part of the jurisdiction of Salta (part of Argentina), but its close ties to what became Bolivia provided the impetus for it to go back to its original jurisdiction. In 1899 Argentina renounced its claims in exchange for the Puna de Atacama.

The valley Tarija is situated in was first occupied by Western Hemispheric indigenous groups, such as the Churumatas and the Tomatas, among others. Subsequently, the Inca Empire – administered by the Quechua civilization – conquered the land and dispersed the Churumatas and other local groups over wide territories of the Andes. Mitimaes is the Quechuan name that the Incas used for the resisting ethnic groups they uprooted and then dispersed geographically. When the Spanish first arrived to the valley of Tarija they encountered several stone roads, most likely the remnants of pre-Incaic cultures, such as that of the Churumatas. However, during that period, the presence of indigenous peoples remained sparse within the valley. Several of the pre-Incaic roads and trials have been preserved, and currently function as a walking trail for Tarijenos.