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Crossing the Andes, Ep. 01 - The Man-Eating Mountain

Crossing the Andes, Ep. 01 - The Man-Eating Mountain

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Stef Biemans explores how life is celebrated in a place where it is brief: Potosí, the highest city in the world.

In the mining town of Potosí, capitalism was born, as it were. Here, the first coin was struck using silver from the mine of the ‘rich mountain,' which is still in use. So much silver has been extracted from this imposing mountain, you could use it to build a bridge to Spain. But you could also build a bridge out of the bones of dead miners and slaves. The mountain slowly devours you, bite by bite. On average, miners only make it to the age of 45. Do you live your life differently, knowing that? And what about those who are left behind, on their own with seven children?

Series Description

The Andes – in all their diversity – are the spine of South America. We traverse six countries, focusing on work, economy, health, and migration, to find out how South America is doing and which changes are taking place in the continent some call an investors paradise, while others say is still a mess…

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