Pampagrande
Encyclopedia
Pampagrande Bolivia
(Lat 18:05:50S Long 64:06:58W) lies about 200 kilometers to the West of Santa Cruz de la Sierra
in the foothills of the Andes
at an altitude of 2000 meters. This tiny community on a river of the same name suffers from financial hardship. The majority of the streets are made of earth, and until recently, there was no plumbing, telephone or electricity in the community. There are a handful of shops, a market and one eating house in the town. Local farmers grow maize and melons where conditions allow. There is a splendid, masonry, single arch bridge over the Rio Pampagrande on the outskirts of town.
The surround country is termed "Medium Altitude Semi-desert".
Locally famous is Hermano (Brother) Andres Langer a Dominican friar who originates from East Germany but has been resident in Pampagrande for thirty years. In that time he has raised the standard of living of his parishioners, obtaining the bridge, piped water, electricity and telephone for the town. There is still no drainage system, consequently all toilet facilities are of the "pit" variety.
An expert in local ornithology
(including the endemic Red-fronted Macaw
, and herpetology
and reptiles, he often makes time to show visitors around as part of his travels about his parish. He also runs the only accommodation in town, a simple bunkhouse next to the church.
There are no restaurants in town, just a simple "eating house" not far from the town centre. A bus runs daily between Santa Cruz and Pampagrande.
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
(Lat 18:05:50S Long 64:06:58W) lies about 200 kilometers to the West of Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the capital of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia and the largest city in the country...
in the foothills of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
at an altitude of 2000 meters. This tiny community on a river of the same name suffers from financial hardship. The majority of the streets are made of earth, and until recently, there was no plumbing, telephone or electricity in the community. There are a handful of shops, a market and one eating house in the town. Local farmers grow maize and melons where conditions allow. There is a splendid, masonry, single arch bridge over the Rio Pampagrande on the outskirts of town.
The surround country is termed "Medium Altitude Semi-desert".
Locally famous is Hermano (Brother) Andres Langer a Dominican friar who originates from East Germany but has been resident in Pampagrande for thirty years. In that time he has raised the standard of living of his parishioners, obtaining the bridge, piped water, electricity and telephone for the town. There is still no drainage system, consequently all toilet facilities are of the "pit" variety.
An expert in local ornithology
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
(including the endemic Red-fronted Macaw
Red-fronted Macaw
The Red-fronted Macaw, Ara rubrogenys, is a parrot endemic to a small semi-desert mountainous area of Bolivia. It is highly endangered, and there may only be 150 or so birds left in the wild; it has been successfully bred in captivity, and is available, if not common, as a pet.-Description:The...
, and herpetology
Herpetology
Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles...
and reptiles, he often makes time to show visitors around as part of his travels about his parish. He also runs the only accommodation in town, a simple bunkhouse next to the church.
There are no restaurants in town, just a simple "eating house" not far from the town centre. A bus runs daily between Santa Cruz and Pampagrande.