The Cities of La Paz and El Alto

Surrounded by adobe walls, these crops are protected from stray animals as well as neighbors. Alvaro and his brothers planted these potatoes on land they recently purchased as a means for production and to defray the high cost of food in the city. As the city expands, land becomes scarce and people must protect their investment. One way to do this is to cultivate crops on the land preventing others from building upon it before you can. Alvaro and his family hope to use this and adjacent lots as places where they will all live in the city. Notice the close proximity of the urbanization in the background; soon these pastures will become streets and houses.