City (pop., 2001: 132,966), southwestern Bolivia.
Founded in 1545 after the discovery of silver in a neighbouring mountain, it grew to be the most populous city in Latin America. After the mid-17th century, its population declined drastically when silver production waned but expanded in the 19th20th century with the introduction of other industries, including tin mining. One of the highest cities in the world, at an elevation of about 13,700 ft (4,200 m), it is a major Bolivian industrial centre. The historic city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.