Elevation
El Alto elevation and altitude
El Alto, Bolivia is 13,091 feet (3,990 meters) above sea level — more than a mile high. Elevation and altitude mean the same thing here: the height of the city above the sea.
What 13,091 feet means in El Alto
Among the 689 cities on this site, El Alto is one of the highest. At 13,091 ft the air is thin enough that most visitors notice it: stairs and hills feel harder for the first few days.
Air pressure. Air pressure falls as you climb, about 1 inHg for every 1,000 ft near the ground. In El Alto a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 18.23 inHg on an average day, while the weather forecast still quotes a sea-level number near 29.92 inHg.
Cooking. Water boils at about 188 °F (86.4 °C) here, so boiled foods cook more slowly and baking recipes often need small high-altitude adjustments. Boiling point at altitude
The highest cities in the world
Where the number comes from. The elevation is for the city center point in the GeoNames gazetteer, taken from a digital elevation model. To check the exact height where you are standing, use What is my elevation? or What is my altitude?
Elevation of places near El Alto
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Paz, Bolivia | 12,408 | 3,782 | 1 mi |
| Oruro, Bolivia | 12,746 | 3,885 | 123 mi |
| Puno, Peru | 12,441 | 3,792 | 132 mi |
| Cochabamba, Bolivia | 8,323 | 2,537 | 146 mi |
| Juliaca, Peru | 12,579 | 3,834 | 148 mi |
| Arequipa, Peru | 7,864 | 2,397 | 224 mi |
| Sucre, Bolivia | 9,180 | 2,798 | 259 mi |
| Potosi, Bolivia | 13,015 | 3,967 | 265 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation or altitude of El Alto?
El Alto, Bolivia is about 13,091 feet (3,990 meters) above sea level, measured at the city center. Neighborhoods higher or lower in the city can differ by a few hundred feet.
What is the air pressure in El Alto because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 13,091 ft is about 18.23 inHg (617 hPa), 61% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 61% as much oxygen as at sea level.
At what temperature does water boil in El Alto?
About 188 °F (86.4 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.