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In 1545 Spanish conquerors discored pure silver in a mountain in the inca region of Kollasuyo, today´s Bolivian Altiplano.They named this mountain Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain) and the prosperus and powerful city born at is base, Potosí.Soon they created the biggest mining industry in this time, sustained by a merciless forced labour system, “La Mita”.After more than four centuries of operation the Cerro Rico of potosí continues to ofter silver, zinc and lead to forty-five cooperatives of miners, who work under dreadful conditions similar to those of their ancestors in colonial timesd. “El Tio” (“the Uncle”), The lord Demon of the mine, is the true owner of its veins, and the miners worship him to win his favour. In exchange, the men must sacrifice their lungs in the obscure maze of the mountain tunnels. They, and those who live off this natural wonder, are the “Children of the silver Mountain”. |
