José Miguel de Velasco Province

José Miguel de Velasco or Velasco is a province in the Santa Cruz department of Bolivia. The capital is San Ignacio de Velasco.

Geography

Velasco is located between the major Bolivian city of Santa Cruz and the Brazilian border. Unpaved highway connects the province with the city of Santa Cruz to the west and Brazil to the east. [Guia Turistica de la Provincia "Velasco", Gobierno Municipal de San Ignacio de Velasco, 1996]

Culture

Velasco features a mestizo culture, blending the culture of the Spanish conquistadors and missionaries with those of the indigenous peoples. Spanish is the most commonly used language in public, though indigenous languages, such as Chiquitano, are also used. Due to the proximity of the province to Brazil, Portuguese speakers can be found, particularly merchants in the city of San Ignacio. There is a small presence of Mennonites and descendants of post-WWII German immigrants.

References