Potosí, Bolivia

Capital City

At 4,067 meters above sea level, Potosí is one of the highest cities in the world - a harsh reality for the 189,652 residents. While its colonial architecture and mining history are impressive, the city's extreme altitude and frigid climate are persistent headaches. Potosí's heyday as the "silver capital of the world" is long gone, and today the city struggles with a heavy bureaucratic burden and the dangerous legacy of its mining industry. This remote Andean outpost is best suited for the most intrepid adventurers.