Processions during The Miners Carnival, Cerro Rico, Potosi, Southern Altiplano, Bolivia, South America

Processions during The Miners Carnival, Cerro Rico, Potosi, Southern Altiplano, Bolivia, South America

Processions during The Miners Carnival, Cerro Rico, Potosi, Southern Altiplano, Bolivia, South America

Mine in Cerro Rico, richest hill on earth, hand mining of silver and zinc today, Potosi, Bolivia, South America

Cerro Rico, richest hill on earth, historical site of major silver mining, Potosi, Bolivia, South America

View of the town of Cerro Rico from the roof of the Covento de San Francisco in Potosi, Bolivia, South America

Potosi and Cerro Rico, Bolivia

Scene in Pailaviri section, Cerro Rico, Potosi, Bolivia

Miners at Pailaviri mine, Cerro Rico, Potosi, Bolivia

Potosi and Cerro Rico, Bolivia

Scene in Pailaviri section, at right and down Pailaviri mine, Cerro Rico, Potosi, Bolivia

Miners at Pailaviri mine, Cerro Rico, Potosi, Bolivia

Scene in Pailaviri section, Cerro Rico, Potosi, Bolivia

Ceramic figure of el Tio or Supai, a creature with horns, gleaming eyes and a big penis, that in fact is not really satanic. It was introduced by the Spaniards in the 16th Century to the mines of Potosi. According to tradition, el Tio (The Uncle) rules over the mines of Cerro Rico, simultaneously offering protection and destruction. Over 500 chambers with statues to honour him have been constructed in Cerro Rico, so miners can leave offerings of tobacco, liquor and coca leaves to invoke his goodwill and protection., Potosi Department, Bolivia

Ceramic figure of el Tio or Supai, a creature with horns, gleaming eyes and a big penis, that in fact is not really satanic. It was introduced by the Spaniards in the 16th Century to the mines of Potosi. According to tradition, el Tio (The Uncle) rules over the mines of Cerro Rico, simultaneously offering protection and destruction. Over 500 chambers with statues to honour him have been constructed in Cerro Rico, so miners can leave offerings of tobacco, liquor and coca leaves to invoke his goodwill and protection., Potosi Department, Bolivia

Ceramic figure of el Tio or Supai, a creature with horns, gleaming eyes and a big penis, that in fact is not really satanic. It was introduced by the Spaniards in the 16th Century to the mines of Potosi. According to tradition, el Tio (The Uncle) rules over the mines of Cerro Rico, simultaneously offering protection and destruction. Over 500 chambers with statues to honour him have been constructed in Cerro Rico, so miners can leave offerings of tobacco, liquor and coca leaves to invoke his goodwill and protection., Potosi Department, Bolivia

Miners drilling holes to place dynamite into the rock with a compressed air pneumatic drills in a shaft of the Cerro Rico de Potosi mine, Potosi Department, Bolivia

Roofs of the Casa Nacional de Moneda (National Mint) with Cerro Rico in the background, Potosi, Bolivia

Mining cars inside a shaft in Cerro Rico de Potosi, Bolivia