User:Zokazou/Santiago K

Santiago K is a village situated in the Lipez, at the South of Uyuni’s Salar in Bolivia. The population is mainly Quechua.

Geography
The village is within a valley separating two mountain: Mont Qaral (4930 m) on the West and Mont Llipi (4844 m) on the North-East. It is at 3775 meters of altitude. Multiple fresh water springs have attracted the people to settle in the area.

History
The village was created in 1490. It was named Yaqicha for 130 years. Then, it became Chuquilla. The name changed again after a story of a girl who found a white dove, hide it for the night. The following morning she found instead the image of a white horse, Santiago’s icon. Thus the village started to be named Santiago. A “K” (without signification) has been added to differentiate with the multiple other Santiago present in Bolivia. The village festival is on July 25th day of the patron saint, Santiago.

Population
In 2018, 35 families live in the village, mainly from agriculture. They produces quinoa for sale and self-consumption as well as various vegetables for self-consumption (potatoes, beans, onions ...). Some raise llamas, mainly for their meat. A primary and secondary school accommodates about 100 students including some coming from the neighboring villages. The houses are often built of adobe (dried earthen brick) and thatched roof made with local grass Paja. The village elders still speak Quechua fluently and daily.

Monuments
One can visit between 5 and 10 altars, each having its own meaning and its own use.

The church was built in the 17th century. She has a thatched roof.

3 km east of the village, the archaeological site of Laqaya is one of the most important pre-Columbian settlements of Lipez with a fortified city and more than 300 ruins of houses. Category:WikiProject Bolivia articles Category:WikiProject South America articles