The name was given by the Spanish Colonials for the huge quantities of silver it contained.
The Spanish thought that the entire mountain was made of silver ore.
Hundreds of thousands died from accidents or killed by overwork, hunger and disease.
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Dozens of men and young boys still die in the mines from cave-in and collapses.
There is no such provision in Cerro Rico.
Very few live to the age of forty.
According to the local widows' association, 14 women are widowed each month.
Today, the mines no longer produce in quantities it did back in the 18th century.
Potosi has been on a slow economic decline ever since.
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Photo credit:Mariano Mantel/Flickr
Sources:Wikipedia/BBC/NPR/PRI
