Tarija

Capital of the department of the same name in the Cercado province in southeast Bolivia, 275 km/171 mi south of Sucre, situated in the rich valley of the River Guadalquivir; population (1996) 111,399. Tarija is one of the oldest settlements in the country, having been founded in 1574. There is a university and cathedral here. The economy is based on sugar-refining and the manufacture of edible oils.

Tarija

Department in the far southeast of Bolivia, bordering Paraguay on the east and Argentina to the south; area 37,623 sq km/14,526 sq mi; population (2000 est) 403,100. The capital is Tarija, one of the oldest settlements in Bolivia. While the eastern districts form part of the Gran Chaco, the rest of the department consists of high, narrow valleys which are rich in vegetation and vary in height from 1,800 m/5,900 ft to 2,900 m/9,500 ft. The climate is of a semi-arid Mediterranean type. Wheat, maize, barley, grapes, potatoes, tobacco, and groundnuts are produced in quantity here. There is also a small wine industry. Cattle are reared, and there are extensive forests. However, industrial development has been restricted by a limited transport network.