by A girl in La Paz asks why Santa gives so much, what a salt flat is, and whether a country can have two capitals
A Letter to Santa from La Paz, Bolivia
Dear Santa,
Hola Santa! My name is Isabella and I am 8 years old. I live in La Paz, in Bolivia, one of the highest cities in the world, way up among the Andes mountains. I love weaving colorful bracelets and playing with my llama, Pepe. My question is: why does Santa Claus do all of this? Why give so much and ask for nothing? My geography question is: what is a salt flat? And my social studies question is: can a country really have two capital cities? Gracias, Santa!
Love, Isabella (age 8)
Santa’s Reply
Ho ho ho, hola Isabella! Give Pepe the llama a pat from me. You asked why I do all of this, flying all night, giving so many gifts, and asking for nothing in return. The answer is the simplest and truest one I know: giving is the thing that makes me happiest in all the world. There is no better feeling than imagining a child waking up to a joyful surprise on Christmas morning. I do it for love, plain and simple. That is my why, and it is the same why that lives in anyone who gives with a kind heart.
Your geography question: what is a salt flat
A salt flat is a huge, flat stretch of land covered in a thick crust of salt, left behind when an ancient lake dried up. Your own Bolivia has the largest salt flat in the world, the Salar de Uyuni. When a thin layer of water covers it, the whole flat turns into a giant mirror reflecting the sky. Read more at National Geographic Kids.
Your social studies question: two capital cities
Yes, a country can have two capital cities, and your own Bolivia is a wonderful example. La Paz, where you live, is the seat of the government, while another city called Sucre holds an important role too. Splitting these duties between two cities is one way a country can share its importance fairly. Explore more at Britannica Kids.
Weave a bright bracelet for me, Isabella. Yours warmly from the North Pole, Santa Claus.
