Cerro Rico

Photo

by Mhwater at Dutch Wikipedia

/ Public domain

Cerro Rico, located in Potosí, Bolivia, is one of the most historically significant mining sites in the world. This mountain, also known as the "Rich Mountain," has been mined for silver since the Spanish colonial era in the mid-16th century. At its peak, Cerro Rico produced an enormous quantity of silver, which significantly contributed to the wealth of the Spanish Empire. The mining operations, however, came at a great human cost, with countless indigenous people and African slaves working under brutal conditions. Today, while the yield of silver has diminished, mining continues, and Cerro Rico remains a symbol of both immense natural wealth and the human toll of resource extraction.

Also check out

National Mint of Bolivia

Church of San Lorenzo de Carangas

Cathedral Basilica of Potosí

Potosí