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Climbing Mountains in Traditional Bolivian Dress

Bolivia is famous for its spectacular mountain scenery, which attracts climbers from all over the world. Often their base camps are staffed by the Aymara women, also known as Cholitas. You can't miss them because they wear skirts in vibrant colours and tiny bowler hats. They used to be confined to cooking for the expeditions, but now, thanks to the pioneering work of one of them, Lydia Huayllas, they climb to the heights with the men.

Image: Lydia in her tradition clothing about to climb a mountain
Credit: Jane Chambers

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Duration:

2 minutes