Showing posts with label Latin; South; America; Bolivia; Altiplano; Potosi; Cerro Rico; tin; mining; mine; Quechua; miners; men; woman; breaking; ore; gallery; photo; photograph; picture; image. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Latin; South; America; Bolivia; Altiplano; Potosi; Cerro Rico; tin; mining; mine; Quechua; miners; men; woman; breaking; ore; gallery; photo; photograph; picture; image. Show all posts

Monday, November 5, 2012

Bolivia: In the Bowels of Potosi's Cerrro Rico



Bolivia. Potosi. In the bowels of Cerro Rico. Mined for silver since Inca times, and now for tin, this mountain, which dominates Potosi, is dangerously drilled through by countless galleries, many long lost to minds and eyes until new galleries crash through them. Though the air outside is frigid, the heat inside is such that I was able to observe miners inside tiny cavities work while being sprayed with the cold water of a hose.

Learn photography joining Victor on a trip

Bolivie. Potosí. Entrailles de Cerro Rico. Minée pour son argent depuis l’époque inca, et aujourd’hui pour son étain, cette montagne qui domine Potosí est creusée d’une quantité inimaginable de galeries, beaucoup d’elles longtemps oubliées, mais qui reparaissent quand de nouvelles galeries s’y effondrent. Quoiqu‘il fait glacial dehors, la chaleur intérieure est telle que j’ai pu observer des mineurs dans des cavités á peine grandes assez pour s’y mouvoir travailler sous l’arrosage de tuyau d’eau froide.




Bolivia. Potosi. Near Cerro Rico. Outside her house a woman is breaking tin ore scavenged from a mine's tailings.

Bolivie. Devant sa maison une femme casse du minerai d’étain de résidus de la mine de Cerro Rico qu’elle a recueillis.