Potosí

The 'Cerro Rico' (rich mountain) of Potosí was the most productive silver mine in the Spanish colonial empire. Silver coins from Potosí were the currency of the whole continent. For a visit of the Spanish viceroy, the main street of Potosí was paved with silver ingots.

Today, miners are still working under primitive conditions in many mines in this mountain, to extract the dwindling supply of metals.