ORURO

city, west-central Bolivia. It lies at 12,150 feet (3,702 m) above sea level in the Altiplano region, 30 miles (48 km) north of Poop Lake. Founded in 1606 as Real Villa de San Felipe de Austria (Royal Town of St. Philip of Austria), Oruro rose to prominence during the Spanish colonial period as the centre of a rich silver-mining region. It lost importance with the decline of silver production in the 19th century but regained status with the development of tin mining. Tungsten and copper are also worked nearby. The city possesses a technical university (1892) and a refinery that processes much of the nation's tin. The hub of Bolivia's railway system, it is also accessible by road and by air. Pop. (1985 est.) 178,393.