Pulacayo, Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde

Town and lakes in the Bolivian altiplano

 

December 2022

 

by Ravi Gundakaram

 

Pulacayo is a mining town between Uyuni and Potosi. It seems there was a golden period for mining (silver and tin) but today, not many mines are working. Pulacayo is special since the first locomotive in Bolivia arrived here. Today, there is a train cemetery (oh no, not one more; as if the one outside Uyuni isn’t enough) which is part of Museo de Locomotoras. But the vehicles here seemed to be in much better shape. Tourist information states that a train that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid robbed is in this museum.


The entrance to Museo de Locomotoras.

A turntable, which was used to reverse the direction of the engine of a train (mostly those that run on steam). The engine enters the turntable and stands in the middle; the whole arrangement rotates by 180° and once the engine faces the opposite direction, it would march off. There used to be one in Vijayawada where I grew up, and it was one of my favourite spots to go and watch when I was a boy!


The Turntable.


Probably the train that was robbed by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (I am not sure of this information; someone may please correct me).

General view of the museum, with a coloured hillock as the backdrop!



Another view of the area.


The entrance to a tunnel on the premises, sealed today of course. An approximate translation of the sign above is: “The beginning of this auxiliary tunnel was on 14 April 1890 by General Guillermo Leiton”.


Some houses in the area; I assume they are used by miners.


No matter where one is, faith is an important aspect of peoples’ lives. Thus it is hardly surprising that the area has its own Church! I couldn’t go inside because it was locked, and it seems the Padre comes only on Sundays.

The Church near the Museum.


Close up of the Church. 


Lord Jesus Christ, protecting the area!

The Potosi area has a few hot water springs, where one can bathe and relax. Going in the opposite direction, one can visit the Lagunas Blanca and Verde in the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa. Both these lakes are in the altiplano region, above an altitude of 4,300 metres above mean sea level.


A view of the rugged and beautiful altiplano region of Bolivia.


A llama surveying the altiplano.


Laguna Blanca (white lake), so called because of its clear waters.


Laguna Verde (Green lake), that is separated from Laguna Blanca only by a short land corridor.


That's all from the Bolivian altiplano, folks! Let us move to the capital city of La Paz!

Location: Pulacayo, Bolivia

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