Peak Khunurana Highest point Illimani Parent range Andes | Elevation 16,637 ft (5,071 m) Country Bolivia | |
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Mountains Khari Khari, Yuraq Yuraq, Wak'ani, Yana Urqu | ||
The Potosí mountain range in Bolivia is situated east and southeast of the city of Potosí. It is at least 25 km long stretching from north to south. Its highest mountain is Khunurana (Anaruyu) rising up to 5,071 m (16,637 ft). The features of the range are considered the product of volcanic activity known as the Khari Khari caldera (19º43'S; 65º38'W). The caldera is about 40 km long and 25 km at its widest point.
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Map of Potos%C3%AD mountain range, Bolivia
The range was named Cordillera de Potosí by the German alpinist Henry Hoek in 1903. He collected information about the range like the local names and published several papers about it. The inhabitants of the area, however, use the names Khari Khari for the northern part and Anta Q'awa for the southern one. The two sections are separated by a depression, the Jach'a Molino Pampa.
Khari Khari range
The Khari Khari range contains a number of mountains which are more than 4,900 m high, the highest elevation being Khari Khari (5,040 m). Other mountains are listed below:
Cerro Rico (4,824 m (15,827 ft)) lies west of the main range.
Anta Q'awa range
South of Jach'a Molino Pampa, in the Anta Q'awa range, there are:
Lakes
During the colonial epoch artificial lakes were built in the Khari Khari range, finally up to 32 lakes. The main purpose was to produce hydroelectric power to run the smelters of the mines. Some of these lakes are still used today for the water supply of the city. Today there are 22 lakes of the Khari Khari range belonging to six systems:
South of Jach'a Molino Pampa there are two more systems:
Other notable lakes are T'ala Qucha and Q'umir Qucha.