Potosí

Potosí, city in southern Bolivia, capital of Potosí Department, in the Andes Mountains, near Sucre. Set at about 4,180 m (about 13,700 ft) above sea level, Potosí is one of the highest inhabited communities in the world. Within the city are Tomás Frías University (1892), a cathedral, a mint built in 1572, and many colonial churches. Potosí was founded in 1546, a year after silver was discovered in the region. By 1611 Potosí was the leading silver center in the world and had a population of 150,000. By 1825, however, the silver was virtually exhausted, and the population fell to 8,000. During the early 20th century, tin mining became important, and the city began to grow again. Population (2008 estimate) 164,803.