Bolivia contains Potosí, the historic silver-mining city founded in 1545 after the discovery of silver at Cerro Rico. The mountain rises beside the city and became one of the richest sources of silver in the Spanish Empire.
Colonial authorities organized extensive mining operations at Potosí, using Indigenous labor systems including the mita. Silver from the mountain was transported through Spanish imperial trade networks, linking the city to ports and markets in Europe and Asia. The wealth supported imperial finances but came at an enormous human and environmental cost.
Potosí stands at more than 4,000 metres above sea level, making it one of the world’s highest cities of substantial size. UNESCO listed the city in 1987 because of its industrial, architectural, and historical importance. Cerro Rico remains a defining symbol of Bolivia, though mining has weakened parts of the mountain and remains dangerous.