The highest city in the world

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I spent a day in the city of Potosí in Bolivia, the highest city in the world at nearly 4000 metres. It's famous for the Cerro Rico, a mountain that contains one of the bigest sources of silver ore in the world. It was initially founded in 1546 as a mining town and soon became the second biggest city in the Americas and also one of the richest cities in the world, with widespread exploitation of vast numbers of miners (including young children) working in incredibly dangerous conditions. As the mines became depleted of silver the fortunes of Potosí declined and now the mines are still functioning but the place is just another poor Bolivian city.

I went on an organised trip to the mines with a guide who was a former miner. First we put on protective gear and picked up some gifts for the miners from the Miners' Market, including some sticks of dynamite which they use to explode new areas of the mine to get to new seams. We also went to see how the silver is processed in a silver processing plant. We then entered the mine, and at times we were crawling on our hands and knees through very tight gaps and down precarious slopes. We went down to the third level underground and that was enough for me, but there are several levels further down. It felt very claustrophobic and at times it was hard to breathe. We met some miners down there and chatted to them. They have to put up with this six days a week without sufficient protective equipment and inevitably end up breathing in dust constantly. With no laws to prevent it, children are allowed to work in the mines, and often still do. The life expectancy is short, and most miners die of silicosis by the age of 40. But without alternative options for work they feel they are left with no choice but to carry on working in the mines. It really makes you realise how lucky you are.

To add to the danger, experts have predicted that there is a likelihood that the mine will completely collapse at some point in the next few years, with catastrophic results. It's sad that it will take something like that to put an end to the misery these miners have had to endure for centuries.

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Comments

[Simon]

Highs and lows!
Hi Paul, what places you have been and are still visiting! The highest city yet one of the most exploited places on Earth. The salt flats are visible from Space as far as Google Earth goes so I can track your movements that way too!