Julaca, Bolivia

[Manfred M]

Located alongside National Highway 5 in southwestern Bolivia is the tiny hamlet of Julaca, population 61. It is in the Altiplano region of the Andes Mountain range at an altitude of 3665 meters (12,014 feet). There are just a few houses, a general store, and a railway station.

The hamlet owes its existence to a railway that was established in 1872 to haul minerals excavated in the Bolivian mines to the coast. Steam locomotives required depots for fuel and water. Many of the mines have now closed and the steam locomotives are long gone, but the trains still pass through the area.

The playground with the silos in the background caught my eye, so I spent some time retouching this image today.

[Tronhard]

Hi Manfed:
Thank you for the images and the back story. Both very interesting!
stay safe and well...