Every March 23rd, Bolivia celebrates Día 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.
This is a day when Bolivians all across the country gather together at rallies to renew their determination to reclaim their access to the Pacific Ocean once again. It’s observed at the conclusion of the Semana del Mar—a week-long event. Over the past 140-years, Bolivia has tried to gain access to the Pacific once again, but they have been largely unsuccessful.
The History Of Day Of The Sea In Bolivia
The War of the Pacific was a war 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 would end with a Chilean victory and that victory gave Chile a good amount of territory from Peru and from Bolivia.
Some Cool Facts About Bolivia
We’ve gathered together 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 entire 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 together in rallies and reaffirm their commitment to reclaiming access to the Pacific Coast once again. People also listen to speeches given by politicians and listen 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.
When is Day Of The Sea in Bolivia? |
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| This year (2023) | March 23 (Thursday) |
| Next year (2024) | March 23 (Saturday) |
| Last year (2022) | March 23 (Wednesday) |