SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA, the largest and most easterly department of Bolivia, bounded on the N. by that of Beni and by Brazil, E. by Brazil and Paraguay, S. by the Argentine Confederation, and W. by Tarija, Chuquisaca, and Cochabamba. It lies between S. Lat. 15. and 22., W. Long. 57. and 65., and has an area of 136,235 square miles. The surface is level or undulating, and covered with extensive and hitherto unexplored forests. Here occurs the watershed between the affluents of the Amazon and those of the La Plata; the Rio Grande and Rio Blanco belonging to the former, and the Pilcomayo and Paraguay to the latter, watering the department. The last-mentioned river, however, only forms the eastern boundary of the country for some distance. Minerals are believed to exist in large quantities here, and the soil produces sugar, coffee, cacao, rice, cotton, indigo, &c. The greater part of Santa Cruz is still occupied by native tribes of Indians, and very few settlements have been made. Pop. 69,000.