El Alto (literally "The Heights" or "The High Place") was once not much more than La Paz's international airport surrounded by the altiplano and farms overlooking the city of La Paz. Since the 1950s, fuelled by immigration from rural areas, it has grown rapidly and its population (the majority of indigenous origin, especially Aymara) has now surpassed that of La Paz! It was officially "founded" as a city on March 6, 1985 during an administrative reform which separated it politically and administratively from the City of La Paz. With an average altitude of 4150m / 13,615ft it is the world's highest large city (one with a population of more than than 100,000 inhabitants), and home to the world's highest international airport (also the 5th highest commercial airport).
