Potosí

Potosí is a city in western Bolivia, the capital of the Potosí Department, located in the Andean highlands at an altitude of about 4,090 meters (13,420 feet) above sea level. The city sits in a broad valley at the foot of Cerro Rico, a mountain whose rich veins of silver fueled a long era of mining.

Founded by Spanish conquistadors in 1545 after the discovery of silver, Potosí grew rapidly and became one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the Americas during the 16th and 17th centuries. Its silver supplied much of the capital for the Spanish Empire and financed colonial administration; the labor system, including the coerced mita of indigenous workers, has been widely documented as brutal.

Today Potosí preserves a large historic center, including the Casa de la Moneda (the mint), churches, plazas and convents. The Historic Centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, recognizing its architectural and historical significance.

Mining activity persists on Cerro Rico at a reduced scale, and tourism centers on the mining heritage, the mint museum, and guided tours of Cerro Rico tunnels. Economic life today blends mining, commerce and services, with a sizable population, though the city faces challenges such as poverty, environmental impacts from mining, and the effects of high-altitude living.

Climatically, Potosí experiences a cold, dry highland climate, with strong diurnal variation and long dry seasons. It remains an iconic symbol of the mineral-driven history of the Americas.