Left Sucre and headed south for the mining town of Potosi, founded by the Spaniards in 1545 after discovering indigenous mine workings at this mountain, Cerro Rico, which dominates the city. Potosi was the source of great wealth for colonial Spain and of indescribable hardship for many Bolivians as immense amounts of silver were extracted from the mines. In Spain, "es un Potosi" is still used for anything superlatively rich. Some silver is still extracted, but it's now mostly zinc, lead and tin.
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