The Mines of Potosi

In colonial times, the Spanish forced Bolivians and African slaves to work in horrific conditions in the mines of Potosi, in the south of Bolivia. It's estimated that up to eight million people perished in the mines. The world's richest silver mines made Potosi the largest city in the Americas in the 16th century, but now the city is a shadow of its former self. The silver deposits have been exhausted, and miners today extract tin and zinc. Most of the miners work in co-operative groups and share the profits amongst themselves. The average miner earns US$3 a day - more than what many rural families survive on, but less than what workers in the city can earn. The mines are hot, dark and dangerous places and due to silicon inhalation and poisonous fumes, it's rare for a miner to reach the age of 50. The miners usually chew coca leaves that act as a stimulant; this is what gives their cheeks a swollen appearance.