Visit of the Corporative mines of Potosi, Bolivia

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi
October 16th 2010

Published: October 21st 2010

The mines at the altitude of 4.300m are really impressive. The name of the movie about the mines and the life of the miners called "The devilish miner" is accurate. The miners are working in middle age conditions getting out of the mines remains of stones with minerals inside (silver, copper, tin, etc.). The security is completely missing, there is almost no oxygen in the mines which is even worse... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 41, Displayed: 21

yes, we are going to climb down there to the next level

some of more luxury places with ladders

(the other one were just holes down in the rocks)

the god of the miners

giving a cigarette to keep the miners save

and alcohol on the ahoulders, elbows and knees to have enough strength to carry the stones and minerals up the mines

climbing back

down there it was really hot

yeah, the devil - underearth god of the miners

at the devil

miners are coming every week to put coca leaves, cigarettes and alcohol for the devil to keep them save and strong

preparing for work

around twenty grams of coca into the mouth for 3-4 hours of work (as you can see on the cheek of the first guy ;)

listening to the breathtaking stories of the miners

the father of one of them died when he was fifteen so he had to continue the work of the father to feed the family

almost back at the top level

a problem with a broken wheel

after bringing a new one, we helped the miners to get the cart back on the rails (loaded it has around 1.5 tons)

fiesta before another miner brings another wheel

the most sophisticated part of the mines

in some places it's possible to use this device to take up the stones

don't worry, it didn't break completely since hundred years, why should it break now? ;) there are many of such places with rock lying on broken wood

lets go to push the cart

(you can't see it on the photos, but we helped them and it is fucking hard work...)

why did the cart stop?

...because a part of the rails is missing :)

finally out of the mines

fucking hard work

I tried to carry the bag in the mines, but I was not able to do it more than few meters...

loading the 40-70kg bags of stones

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Visit of the Corporative mines of Potosi, Bolivia

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