I have a vague memory that one of the South American countries had two official capital cities. I think it was Chile or Peru, but I’m not sure. My friends all accuse me of using other South American exports, but I remain certain. Anybody else share this memory???
Thanx!
Bolivia: La Paz and Sucre.
IIRC, one of the cities is the “Official Capital” and the other is the “Seat of Government”
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I don’t know either 
Synonym: the word you use in place of a word you can’t spell.
There are THREE capitals in the Republic of South Africa, reflecting a compromise ofthe 3 original joiners of the Union of South Africa after the Boer War.
(Cape Province and Durban counted as one in the negotiations, since they were both British colonies at the time.)
Parliament is in Cape Town, Cape Province
The SA Government House is in Pretoria, Transvaal
Supreme Court is in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State
Sucre: Capital
La Paz: Seat of Government
Encyclopedia Britannica article on the city of Sucre, Bolivia
See also The Netherlands, Amsterdam vs. The Hague.
Oh, and I forgot to say, the capital of Brazil was Rio de Janeiro until 1960, at which point the government moved to Brasilia, but the move took longer than expected, so for some years the capital of Brazil was effectively “split” between Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro.
No one has mentioned why Bolivia needs two capitals, or what the difference between an official capital and an administrative capital is.
Sucre (then called Chuquisaca, later renamed after Bolivia’s first president) was the capital of the region when it was a part of the Spanish Empire. The fabulously rich silver-mining city of Potosi was nearby, and that was really the only reason anybody would have to live in Bolivia at the time. When the silver started to run out, the center of population shifted. Gradually, government bodies shifted too, and by 1898 La Paz (officially La Paz de Ayacucho) was the de facto capital. In that year legislation was passed recognizing that the government was really in La Paz, but the legislation also made Sucre the permanent official capital. I believe the Supreme Court still meets at Sucre, not La Paz.
Why bother keeping Sucre as the official capital? The only reason I can think of is tradtion. The Bolivians are BIG on tradition. For example, they lost their last seaport more than 100 years ago to Chile, but they still have a navy. As far as I know, it’s the only landlocked country that has a navy.
By the way, I have heard it said that they moved the capital because the old capital was too high and people were suffering altitude sickness. This is bull. The new capital (La Paz) is 3,000 feet higher than the old capital.
Work is the curse of the drinking classes. (Oscar Wilde)
I do believe I did. (simulpost perhaps?)
Book review of Bernard Prézelin, «Flottes de combat 2000», Editions Maritimes et d’Outre-Mer
Translation: One learns in it that the swiss navy exists… and that it is composed of eleven 5-ton boats that ensure “surveillance and control of borders” on Lakes Léman, Constance and Majeur.
In Europe: The Netherlands; The Hague and Amsterdam
In Asia: Saudi Arabia; Riyadh and Mecca
In Africa: Libya; Tripoli and Benghazi (formerly).
I also have a world atlas which indicates that a state in Germany–formerly part of East Germany–has two capitals, Dresden and Chemnitz.
And some counties in Arkansas and Mississippi have two county seats.
My coworker is from Holland and I asked her why The Netherlands has two capitals. Especially since the government sit there, the Queen lives there, all the government is there.
Her answer was “Why does the government have to be in the capital?”
Navies in land-locked countries are far more common than I ever would have guessed. Besides Bolivia and Switzerland, there are Burundi, Central African Republic, Malawi, Paraguay, and Uganda. In addition, Hungary has a marine wing of the army.
I used to joke that my imitation Swiss Army knife was a Swiss Navy knife. For all I know there really could be a Swiss Navy knife.
Brundi, CAR, Malawi and Uganda all have good sized lakes. (Lake Victoria is the second largest fresh water body). Lake Chad ain’t no big deal but it’s big enuff to have a few boats. Paraguay has a fine river port in its capital. The Danube has lots of barge traffic(Hungary). While none of those countries has seacoasts they all have water.
I just thought of a few others…
Morocco use to have two. Tangiers (Summer Capital) and Rabat(Winter). Rhode Island had Providence and Newport (till the late 1800’s)
Benin has Porto Novo but almost all the goverment is in Cotonou. Laos had two Vientiane (admin) and Luang Prabang (royal) till the reds took over.
Tanzania has Dar es Salaaam (actual) and Dodoma (newly offical)
The Ivory Coast or Cote d’Ivoire has Abidjan (actual -US recognized) and offical Yamoussoukro. Or Israel with Jerusalem (offical) and Tel Aviv (recognized by most countries)
The Quebec legislature and much of the silly service is in Quebec (the City), but much of the executive council (y compris le Premier ministre) do most of their work out of Montreal.
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>>why does the government have to be in the capital?
I would guess that is the definition of the capital: the city where the government is.
Saying that the government is in another city than the capital would be (to me) like saying the shower is in another room than the bathroom. In my house I can decide to call the room where I shower “the kitchen” but I am only playing with words.
But if you go to Bolivia, where they have only one paved road in the whole country. And you stay in lovely La Paz, everything says stuff like ‘The worlds highest capital city’ on in, or in it. This goes for local tourist brochures and foreign travelers guides as well.
Another place with two capitals, Kashmir, Srinagar & Jammu (summer and winter). I know it’s not a country but it could be soon, if the Kashmiri’s get a say (a highly unlikely turn of events).
Wisdom is the boobie prize,they give you when you’ve been --unwise!