Santa Cruz Department
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Map of Bolivia showing Santa Cruz department
Santa Cruz is a department in Bolivia. Population (2001 census) 2,029,471. The capital is the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
The department covers a vast expanse of territory in eastern Bolivia, much of it rainforests, extending from the Andes to the border with Brazil. The department's economy depends largely on agriculture, with sugar, cotton, soybeans and rice being grown. In recent years, the discovery of natural gas in the department has led to plans for the development of a regional natural gas industry that will likely boost the local economy. In July 2004, the people of Bolivia voted in a nation-wide referendum to allow for regulated exportation of the gas.
Coinciding with the 2005 Bolivia protests, people of non-indigenous European descent from this wealthier eastern department have been mobilizing against gas nationalization and for greater regional autonomy for Santa Cruz. These demands are supported by several business organizations such as cattle farmers and the agribusiness sector. Because of this, there has been some recent fears about a possible civil war in Bolivia between the predominately indigenous highlands of the country and the more European eastern part of the country.
The department is divided in 15 provinces.
Provinces of Santa Cruz Department
- Andrés Ibáñez
- Angel Sandoval
- Chiquitos
- Cordillera
- Florida
- Germán Busch
- Guarayos
- Ichilo
- Ignacio Warnes
- José Miguel de Velasco
- Manuel María Caballero
- Ñuflo de Chávez
- Obispo Santistevan
- Sara
- Vallegrande
bg:Санта Крус (департамент) de:Santa Cruz (Departamento) eo:Santa Cruz (Bolivio) es:Departamento de Santa Cruz