Potosí mountain range

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.

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:

• Allqamari, 4280 m

• Cerro del Abra*, 4960 m

• Cóndor Negro*, 5000 m

• Illimani, 5030 m

• Jatun Q'asa, 5023 m

• Jatun T'ira, 4740 m

• Jayu Jayu, 4264 m

• Juch'uy T'ira, 4580 m

• Juqhuni, 4920 m

• Kimsa Chata, 4680 m

• Kimsa Kunturiri group, 5020 m, 4980 m, 4960 m

• Kimsa Waylla, 4980 m

• Kiwuta K'iña, 4800 m

• K'allampani, 4720 m

• Llallawa, 3740 m

• Masuni, 4980 m

• Mawk'a Tampu, 4940 m

• Muqun Punta, 4520 m

• Muqun Urqu, 4958 m

• Murmuntani, 4840 m

• Puka Punta*, 5020 m

• Qucha Qucha, 4440 m

• Qhispi Llaqta, 4780 m

• Q'asiri, 4880 m

• Q'illu Urqu, 4960 m

• Q'illu Q'asa, 4960 m

• Sip'uruni*, 4966 m

• Suchu Suchu Punta, 4960 m

• Tani Tani, 4649 m

• Tani Tani, 4465 m

• Uma Jalanta, 4760 m

• Wak'ani, 4960 m

• Wich'u Qullu, 4440 m

• Yana Punta*, 4920 m

• Yana Urqu, 4660 m

• Yana Urqu, 4640 m

• Yana Salla, 4620 m

• Yuraq Apachita, 4610 m

• Yuraq Laq'a, 3740 m

• Yuraq Yuraq, 4920 m

Cerro Rico (4824 m) lies west of the main range.

Anta Q'awa range
South of Jach'a Molino Pampa, in the Anta Q'awa range, there are:

• Anta Q'awa, 4980 m

• Cerro de la Mina*, 4940 m

• Ch'aki Qucha, 4628 m

• Hundimiento, 5002 m

• Jatun Kunturiri, 5008 m

• Juch'uy Lip'ichi, 4840 m

• Kimsa Qullu, 4500 m

• Kinwa Qullu, 4900 m

• Khunurana (Anaruyu), 5071 m

• Kuntur Ikiña, 4661 m

• Kuntur Sayana, 4322 m

• Kunturiri, 4867 m

• Kunturiri, 4600 m

• Link'u, 4700 m

• Lip'ichi, 4840 m

• Mach'a Anta Q'awa, 5042 m

• Machu, 5042 m

• Mulli P'unqu, 4892 m

• Muru Urqu, 4760 m

• Muyu Q'asa, 4240 m

• Phina Urqu, 4860 m

• P'allta Urqu, 4840 m

• P'isaqana, 4502 m

• P'ukru, 4768 m

• Q'asiri, 4900 m

• Q'umir Qucha, 5020 m

• Satari, 4588 m

• Uma Chhukuta, 4902 m

• Warawara ridge, 4900 m

• Wisk'achani, 4416 m

• Yana Mayu, 4797 m

• Yana Urqu group, 4860 m

• Yana Urqu, 4840 m

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:
 * the Pati Pati system with 3 lakes: Atucha, Santa Lucía, Candelaria
 * the San José system with 7 lakes: Llama Mikhu, San José I, San José II, Buena Ventura, Llama Kunka, Wak'ani, Providencia
 * the Suras or Calderón system with 1 lake: Calderón
 * the San Ildefonso system with 3 lakes: Khari Khari Lakes (San Ildefonso, San Pablo, now integrated into San Ildefonso), San Fernando
 * the San Sebastián system with 6 lakes: Muñisa, Masuni, Criciza, San Lázaro, San Sebastián, Planilla (now integrated into San Sebastián)
 * the Challwiri system with 2 lakes: Illimani, Tawaqu Ñuñu or Challwiri.

South of Jach'a Molino Pampa there are two more systems:
 * the Lakha Ch'akha system with one lake: Lakha Ch'akha
 * the Ch'alluma system with Ch'alluma (I and II) and Turina.

Other notable lakes are T'ala Qucha and Q'umir Qucha.