10 Characteristics of Potosi – Bolivia

December 20, 2016 SouthAmerica

Potosi is a city in Bolivia located in the southern part of the country, and it is one the highest cities in the world with an elevation of 4,070 m (13,353 feet).

Potosi was founded in 1545 by the Spanish Conquistadores, and it still has colonial buildings from that era with narrow cobblestone streets, colonial churches, and historic buildings with old doors. Potosi was referred to as La Villa Imperial de Carlos V in times of the colony.
In the XVI Century, Potosi was the most important city of the Spanish Crown because of the silver deposit from their Cerro Rico, the Rich Mountain, or how the locals refer to it Sumac Orcko (Sumac means rich and Orcko mountain).
The summit of the Cerro Rico is at 4,790 m. 15,715 feet. The Aymara were the first ones to know about this mountain.
The silver production of this Cerro Rico was of 30,000 tons (2 billion ounces) making it the largest silver deposit in the world.

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Based on how crucial their silver production was for Spain, in 1572 a Mint House was established known as La Casa de la Moneda. This Mint House was a substitution of the mint house in Lima and operated for more than 300 years.
Potosi´s Mint House used the Flywheel Press designed by Leonardo DaVinci 1452-1519, a large wooden device that was powered by mules. This machine became in use around 1700 in Spain and only six of these machines were built; two of them survive today.

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Taking short underground mine tours is a common practice for visiting tourists; however, these mines are unregulated, built with poor mining practices, and very dangerous. Those with no previous mining experience should not enter them. Dangers include deep shafts, rock fall, bad air, and unexploded dynamite.
Surrounding Potosi you will find some of the the highest known hot springs in the Andes, these include Aguas Termales de Polques or Chalviri, and Ojo del Inca. Both are described in Hot Springs of the Andes
In 1987 Unesco declared Potosi a World Heritage Site.
Potosi has its own brewery Potosina established in 1901. They claim to be the highest brewery in the world! They produce two kinds of beer; a light Potosina Pilsner and a very dark and sweet Potosina Malta.

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