Oruro

Oruro, capital of the department of Oruro, in Bolivia, stands on a saline plain 11,960 feet above the sea, near the salt lake of Aullagas, and possesses mines of silver, gold, and tin. Founded in 1590, it had 70,000 inhabitants in 1650, but now, though connected by rail with Autofagasta, has only 13,500. The department, bordering on Peru, has an area of 21,600 sq. m. and a pop. of 111,400. The soil is saline, but the mineral wealth is great.