Potosí Department
Encyclopedia
Potosí Department is a department
in southwestern Bolivia
. It comprises 118,218 km² with 709,013 inhabitants (2001 census). The capital is the city of Potosí
.
It is mostly a barren, mountainous region with one large plateau
to the west, where the largest salt flat in the world, Salar de Uyuni
, is located.
Potosí was the richest province in the Spanish empire
, providing a great percentage of the silver
that was shipped to Europe
.
It is also the location of the San Cristóbal silver, zinc and lead mines, developed by the US-company Apex Silver Mines Limited of Colorado and in November 2008 sold to the Japanese Sumitomo Corporation
.
(municipios) and 219 cantons
(cantónes).
, Spanish
and Aymara
. The following table shows the number of those belonging to the recognized group of speakers.
Departments of Bolivia
Bolivia is divided into nine departments . Each of the departments is subdivided into provinces , which are further subdivided into municipalities ....
in southwestern Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. It comprises 118,218 km² with 709,013 inhabitants (2001 census). The capital is the city of Potosí
Potosí
Potosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal . and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia...
.
It is mostly a barren, mountainous region with one large plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
to the west, where the largest salt flat in the world, Salar de Uyuni
Salar de Uyuni
Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at . It is located in the Potosí and Oruro departments in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, and is elevated above the mean sea level. The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes...
, is located.
Potosí was the richest province in the Spanish empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
, providing a great percentage of the silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
that was shipped to Europe
Spanish treasure fleet
The Spanish treasure fleets was a convoy system adopted by the Spanish Empire from 1566 to 1790...
.
It is also the location of the San Cristóbal silver, zinc and lead mines, developed by the US-company Apex Silver Mines Limited of Colorado and in November 2008 sold to the Japanese Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation is one of the largest worldwide trading company , and is a diversified corporation. Sumitomo is headquartered in the Harumi Island Triton Square Office Tower Y in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan...
.
Provinces of Potosi Department
The department is divided into 16 provinces which are further supbdivided into 40 municipalitiesMunicipalities of Bolivia
Municipalities in Bolivia are administrative divisions of the entire national territory governed by local elections. Municipalities are the third level of administrative divisions, below departments and provinces. Some of the provinces consist of only one municipality...
(municipios) and 219 cantons
Cantons of Bolivia
||On the level below municipalities, Bolivia is divided into cantons ....
(cantónes).
| Province | Capital | km² | Inhabitants |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alonso de Ibáñez Alonso de Ibáñez Province Alonso de Ibáñez is a province in the northern parts of the Bolivian Potosí Department. Its capital is Sacaca .-Location:... |
Sacaca | 2.170 | 29.821 | |
| Antonio Quijarro Antonio Quijarro Province Antonio Quijarro is a province in the central parts of the Bolivian Potosí Department situated at the Salar de Uyuni. Its seat is Uyuni.-Location:Antonio Quijarro province is one of sixteen provinces in the Potosí Department... |
Uyuni Uyuni Uyuni is a city in the southwest of Bolivia. It primarily serves as a gateway for tourists visiting the world's largest salt flats, the nearby Salar de Uyuni.-Origin:... |
14.890 | 37.431 | |
| Bernardino Bilbao Bernardino Bilbao Province Bernardino Bilbao is a province in the Northern parts of the Bolivian department of Potosí. It has its name after Bernardino Bilbao Rioja, Bolivian general and politician.-Location:... |
Arampampa Arampampa Arampampa is a small town in the Potosí Department of Bolivia. In 2010 it had an estimated population of 552.-References:... |
640 | 10.850 | |
| Charcas Charcas Province Charcas is a province in the northern parts of the Bolivian Potosí Department. Its capital is San Pedro de Buena Vista .-Location:... |
San Pedro de Buena Vista San Pedro de Buena Vista San Pedro de Buena Vista is a small town in Bolivia.-References:... |
2.964 | 41.651 | |
| Chayanta Chayanta Province Chayanta Municipality is the second municipal section of the Rafael Bustillo Province in the Bolivian Potosí Department. Its seat is Chayanta.-Location:... |
Colquechaca Colquechaca Colquechaca is a small town in Bolivia. In 2009 it has an estimated population of 1753. It is the highest city in Bolivia-References:... |
7.026 | 98.946 | |
| Cornelio Saavedra Cornelio Saavedra Province Cornelio Saavedra is a province in the north-eastern parts of the Bolivian Potosí Department. The capital of the province is Betanzos with 4,168 inhabitants in the year 2001.... |
Betanzos | 2.375 | 61.398 | |
| Daniel Campos Daniel Campos Province Daniel Campos is a province in the north-western parts of the Bolivian Potosí Department. It is named after the poet Daniel Campos who originated from this area. Its capital is Llica.-Location:... |
Llica Llica -History:There is evidence to suggest that this small village has existed for over 500 years, probably since before the discovery of America , for the Indians of southeastern the current Bolivia established brands dedicated to the cultivation of Pope, To provide food to the caravans crossing the... |
12.106 | 5.270 | |
| Enrique Baldivieso Enrique Baldivieso Province Enrique Baldivieso is a province in the Bolivian department of Potosí. It is named after the former vice president Enrique Baldivieso... |
San Agustín | 2.254 | 1.827 | |
| José María Linares José María Linares Province José María Linares is a province in the eastern parts of the Bolivian department of Potosí. Its capital is Puna.-Location:José María Linares province is one of sixteen provinces in the Potosí Department. It is located between 19° 30' and 20° 16' South and between 64° 43' and 65° 53' West... |
Puna | 5.136 | 50.817 | |
| Modesto Omiste Modesto Omiste Province Modesto Omiste is a province in the south of the Bolivian Potosí Department. Its capital is Villazón.-Location:Modesto Omiste province is one of sixteen provinces in the Potosí Departamento. It is located between 21° 39' and 22° 06' South and between 65° 10' and 66° 08' West... |
Villazón Villazón Villazón is a town in southern Bolivia, on the border with Argentina. It sits directly across a river from La Quiaca in Argentina. The town is a busy trading hub, with large quantities of goods flowing north.... |
2.260 | 38.364 | |
| Nor Chichas Nor Chichas Province Nor Chichas is a province in the Eastern parts of the Bolivian Potosí Department. Its seat is Cotagaita.-Location:Nor Chichas province is one of sixteen provinces in the Potosí Department. It is located between 20° 01' and 21° 08' South and between 65° 13' and 66° 17' West... |
Cotagaita Cotagaita Cotagaita is a small town in Bolivia. In 2009 it had an estimated population of 1904.-References:... |
8.979 | 32.946 | |
Nor Lípez Nor Lípez Province Nor Lípez is a province in the Bolivian department of Potosí. Its seat is Colcha "K", also called Villa Martín. The majority of the province's area was titled as the Nor Lípez Native Community Land on 19 April 2011... |
Colcha "K" | 20.892 | 11.594 | |
| Rafael Bustillo Rafael Bustillo Province Rafael Bustillo is a province in the Bolivian Potosí Department. Its name honors the Bolivian diplomat and foreign secretary Rafael Bustillo . The capital of the province is Uncía with a population of 5,709 in the year 2001, the largest town is Llallagua with 20,065 inhabitants.-Location:Rafael... |
Uncía Uncia Uncia can refer to:* Uncia , an ancient Roman bronze coin* Uncia , an ancient Roman unit of length* Uncia , a Bolivian tin mine... |
2.235 | 75.599 | |
| Sud Chichas Sud Chichas Province Sud Chichas is a province in the Bolivian department of Potosí. Its seat is Tupiza.-Location:Sud Chichas province is one of sixteen provinces in the Potosí Department. It is located between 20° 51' and 21° 50' South and between 65° 15' and 66° 30' West... |
Tupiza Tupiza Tupiza is a city in Potosí Department, Bolivia. It is located at around at an elevation of about 3160 m. The population is 23,100... |
8.516 | 47.005 | |
Sud Lípez Sud Lípez Province Sur Lípez is a province in the Potosí Department in Bolivia. The seat of the province is San Pablo de Lípez.-Location:Sur Lípez is one of sixteen provinces in the Potosí Department... |
San Pablo de Lípez San Pablo de Lípez San Pablo de Lípez is a small town in Bolivia.-References:... |
22.355 | 5.284 | |
Tomás Frías Tomás Frías Province Tomás Frías is a province in the northern parts of the Bolivian Potosí Department. Its capital is Potosí which is also the capital of the department. The province is named after the former president Tomás Frías Ametller.-Location:... |
Potosí Potosí Potosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal . and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia... |
3.420 | 189.978 |
Languages
The languages spoken in the department are mainly QuechuaQuechua languages
Quechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably...
, Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and Aymara
Aymara language
Aymara is an Aymaran language spoken by the Aymara people of the Andes. It is one of only a handful of Native American languages with over three million speakers. Aymara, along with Quechua and Spanish, is an official language of Peru and Bolivia...
. The following table shows the number of those belonging to the recognized group of speakers.
| Language | Department | Bolivia |
|---|---|---|
| Quechua Quechua languages Quechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably... |
514,421 | 2,281,198 |
| Aymara Aymara language Aymara is an Aymaran language spoken by the Aymara people of the Andes. It is one of only a handful of Native American languages with over three million speakers. Aymara, along with Quechua and Spanish, is an official language of Peru and Bolivia... |
57,738 | 1,525,321 |
| Guaraní Guaraní language Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of... |
374 | 62,575 |
| Another native | 356 | 49,432 |
| Spanish Spanish language Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the... |
438,204 | 6,821,626 |
| Foreign | 3,771 | 250,754 |
| Only native | 226,967 | 960,491 |
| Native and Spanish | 301,280 | 2,739,407 |
| Spanish and foreign | 136,980 | 4,115,751 |
Places of interest
- Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National ReserveEduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National ReserveThe Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve is located in Sur Lípez Province. Situated in the far southwestern region of Bolivia, it is the country's most visited protected area...
- Torotoro National ParkTorotoro National ParkTorotoro National Park is a small national park in Bolivia, situated among the eastern mountain ranges of the South American Andes cordilleras.-Geography:...
- Laguna ColoradaLaguna Coloradathumb|250px|leftLaguna Colorada is a shallow salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia, within Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve and close to the border with Chile....
- Laguna Verde
- Laguna BlancaLaguna Blanca (Bolivia)Laguna Blanca is a lake in the Sur Lípez Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia. At an elevation of 4350 m, its surface area is 10.9 km². The lake is 5.6 km long and 3.5 km wide. The characteristic white colour of the water, that gave the lake its name, is caused by the high amount of...
- Salar de UyuniSalar de UyuniSalar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at . It is located in the Potosí and Oruro departments in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, and is elevated above the mean sea level. The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes...
- PotosíPotosíPotosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal . and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia...
- UyuniUyuniUyuni is a city in the southwest of Bolivia. It primarily serves as a gateway for tourists visiting the world's largest salt flats, the nearby Salar de Uyuni.-Origin:...