Day Of The Sea in Bolivia
Every March 23rd, Bolivia celebrates DÃa Del Mar—or National Day of the Sea, as it’s known in English. This holiday was created to remember the historic injustice of the country losing access to its 250-mile Pacific Coast when Bolivia lost to Chile in the War of the Pacific.
Bolivia (Observance)This is a day when Bolivians across the country gather at rallies to renew their determination to reclaim their access to the Pacific Ocean once again. It’s observed at the conclusion of Semana del Mar—a week-long event. Over the past 140 years, Bolivia has tried to regain access to the Pacific, but they have been largely unsuccessful.
The History of Day of the Sea in Bolivia
The War of the Pacific was a conflict that developed between Chile and a Bolivian-Peruvian alliance in 1879. It was fought over Chilean claims on coastal Bolivian territory in the Atacama Desert. The war ended with a Chilean victory, and that victory gave Chile a significant amount of territory from Peru and Bolivia.
Some Cool Facts About Bolivia
We’ve gathered a number of cool facts about Bolivia that most people will find interesting. Let’s delve into them before we talk about how Day of the Sea is celebrated.
- Lake Titicaca is the largest and highest navigable lake in the world.
- Bolivia has 37 official languages.
- One of the world’s largest butterfly sanctuaries is located in Bolivia.
- In Bolivia, guinea pigs are a delicacy.
Observing Day of the Sea in Bolivia
On this holiday, people gather in rallies and reaffirm their commitment to reclaiming access to the Pacific Coast once again. People also listen to speeches given by politicians and to the recorded sound of seagulls. Although it’s a widely observed holiday in Bolivia, it’s not a public holiday, so businesses maintain their normal hours.
Bolivia (Observance)
