Day of the Sea protest in La Paz

March 23rd is observed as "The Day of the Sea in Bolivia." On this date in 1879, a small force of Bolivians died trying to defend a Bolivian port from invading Chilean forces. During the War of the Pacific, all of Bolivia's former coastal territory became part of northern Chile, resulting in Bolivia becoming a landlocked nation.
Bolivia has lost territory in several wars (the country is now less than half the size it was when it declared independence in 1825), but the loss of sea hurts the most. Bolivia still maintains a navy and La Paz's Museo del Litoral (Museum of the Coast) is dedicated to Bolivia's former coast. Bolivia still demands the return of the land from Chile and the anniversary is marked with parades. Schoolchildren carry pictures of boats and placards reading: "I Want Sea."