©2004 Aaron Luoma

All rights reserved

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U-Neek Photos

Think globally, act locally

Potosi,

Bolivia

Item Number—P127

Two and a half miles above sea level the legendary colonial city of Potosí rests at the base of Cerro Rico (‘Rich Hill’), once so full of silver it largely bankrolled the Spanish empire for more than 150 years. By the 17^th century, Potosi was one of the world’s largest and richest cities. On the streets of Madrid, the expression, “It’s worth a Potosi”, was equated with untold wealth. Bolivian schoolchildren to this day are taught that a bridge of silver stretching from Potosi to Madrid could have been built from Cerro Rico’s bounty.

©2007 Aaron Luoma

All rights reserved