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The Spanish arrived in Porco in 1539; this was a settlement with native population dedicated to the exploitation of the silver for the Incan Empire, near to the current city of Potosí.
It is supposed that the original inhabitants of the region knew of the mining potential of the "Potojchi", or Cerro Rico (rich hill), but that they had kept this information secret to avoid the exploitation of the place by the Inca, fearing the hard work that they would be subjected to for the enrichment of the empire.
On the 1st of April 1545, the Spanish took possession of the Cerro Rico in the name of his majesty Carlos I of Spain and Germany, and founded the city of Potosí. In a short time Potosí became an important and rapidly expanding mining centre. Carlos V granted Villaroel the title of ‘founder of Potosí’ and gave the city a coat of arms and the title "Villa Imperial of Carlos V". " Later on, King Felipe II granted the Villa Imperial of Potosí the royal arms of Spain.
In 1650, Potosí had 160.000 inhabitants, a similar population to that of Paris and London of the time, and was the most populous city of the Americas, and one of the most populous in the world. Bartolomé Arzans de Orzua y Vela in his "History of the Villa Imperial of Potosí." says":... so great was the economic success that the mining in Potosí produced, that within the city flourished painters, sculptors, engravers, goldsmiths and silversmiths, architects and musicians, who stimulated the arts, construction and trade...."
On the 10th November 1810 the cry of liberty sounded in Potosí. The War of Independence lasted fifteen years until the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Bolivar and of the countries of Alto Peru in 1825. During the republic, Potosí was the economic capital of Bolivia and Sucre its political capital. Other major silver deposits were discovered in the district of Llallagua and other mining centres were formed.
Potosí, at the present time, hasn't changed its dependency on the mining of tin, wolfram, zinc, lead, and other minerals; thus retaining its reputation as a single-product city. The passing of the time in the city of Potosí has left testimonies to each one of the periods that it has seen; these testimonies to her past are zealously guarded to show to the world of today, and the world of the future, the glory that was Potosí.
Potosí has been given the titles of Monument of the Americas and Historical World Heritage Area.
ALTITUDE
The height of the city of Potosí is 3950 m.a.s.l
CLIMATE
Cold with an annual average temperature of 10° C.

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