Potosí (Spanish pronunciation: [potoˈsi]; Quechua: P'utuqsi; Aymara: Putusi) is a department in southwestern Bolivia. Its area is 118,218 km2 (45,644 sq mi) and its population is 856,419 (2024 census). The capital is the city of Potosí.
It is a mostly barren, mountainous region with one large plateau to the west, where the largest salt flat in the world, Salar de Uyuni, is located.
Cerro Potosí was the richest province in the Spanish Empire, providing a great percentage of the silver that was shipped to Europe.
Potosi 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 sold in November 2008 to the Japanese Sumitomo Corporation.
Contents
History
In March 2023, social organisations in four regions of Potosí, with the support of regional MAS-IPSP lawmakers, called for a strike spanning over 72 hours, to force the government to raise infrastructure investments in the department and to receive an increased amount of the profits generated through lithium mining in the region. Shortly after the strike an agreement with the central government was reached, stipulating the construction of motorways and a cement plant and further discussions about mining conditions.
Government
Executive offices
The chief executive office of Bolivia departments (since May 2010) is the governor; until then, the office was called the prefect, and until 2006 the prefect was appointed by the President of Bolivia. The current governor, Jhonny Mamani of the Movement for Socialism – Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples was elected on 7 March 2021.
Legislative Assembly
Under the 2009 Constitution, each Bolivian department has an elected Departmental Legislative Assembly. The first elections were held 4 April 2010.
The current executive committee consists of Jacinto Sunagua Dorado as president, Raimunda Cordero Caba as vice-president and Alberto Quispe Mamani as secretary and Blanca Celia Burgos Quispe and Leon Jancko Condori as first and second committee member, respectively.
Provinces of Potosi Department
The department is divided into 16 provinces which are further subdivided into 40 municipalities (municipios) and 219 cantons (cantones).
Economy
Mining
Salar de Uyuni mine (Lithium)
San Vicente mine (Silver)
Languages
The main languages spoken in the department are Quechua, Spanish and Aymara. The following table shows the number of speakers of recognized languages in Potosí and in all of Bolivia.
Places of interest
Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve
Torotoro National Park
Laguna Colorada
Laguna Verde
Laguna Blanca
Salar de Uyuni
Potosí
Uyuni
Notable people
Juana Azurduy de Padilla, guerrilla military leader.
Manuel Ascencio Padilla, namesake of the town of Padilla, Bolivia.
Modesto Omiste Tinajeros, writer, politician, and namesake of the province Modesto Omiste.