Sur Lípez or Sud Lípez is a province in the Potosí Department in Bolivia. The seat of the province is San Pablo de Lípez.

Location

Sur Lípez is one of sixteen provinces in the Potosí Department. Also, the southwesternmost point of Bolivia is located here, at 22° 49' 41.016" South, 67° 52' 35.004" West, at an elevation of approximately 5,400 m on the northeastern slope of the Licancabur volcano. It is bordered by the Nor Lípez Province in the north and northwest, Enrique Baldivieso Province in the west, the Republic of Chile in the southwest and south, the Republic of Argentina in the southeast and east, and Sud Chichas Province in the northeast. The province extends from the northeast to the southwest, at a length of 230 km and an average width of 100 km.

Geography

In its southwestern part, the Quetena Grande Canton lies in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, the province has a couple of lakes and salt pans, the largest being Laguna Colorada, which is 10 km in diameter at an elevation of 4,278 m. Other lakes, such as Laguna Verde, Laguna Blanca and Laguna Celeste are also well known for their respectively green, white and blue colors. There is a geyser field called "Sol de Mañana" in southwestern Sur Lípez. The Cordillera de Lípez traverses the province. The highest mountain of the province is Uturunku at 6008 m. Other mountains are listed below: • Apachita • Ch'aska Urqu • Ch'iqlla • Ch'iqu • Jarellón • Juriques • Kuntur Wasi • Linzor • Lípez • Luru Mayu • Michina • Muruq'u • Nelly • Nina Urqu • P'aqu Urqu • Quli Urqu • Qhawana • Q'illu Salli • Q'illu Urqu • Sanawrya • Sapaliri • Suni K'ira • Suri Phuyu • T'iyuyuq • Waqrayuq • Waylla Jarita • Yana Urqu • Yuraq Urqu The tourist circuit La Ruta de las Joyas Altoandinas passes through the spectacular geography of this area.

Division

The province comprises three municipalities are further subdivided into cantons.

Population

The population increased from 4,158 (1992 census) to 4,905 inhabitants (2001 census), an increase of 18%. 99.4% of the population have no access to electricity, and 90% have no sanitary facilities. 69% of the population is employed in agriculture, 4% in mining, 4% in industry, and 23% in general services. 86% of the population are Catholics, 9% are Protestants. The people are predominantly indigenous citizens of Quechua descent.

Languages

The languages spoken in the province are mainly Spanish and Quechua.