384 



SOUTH AMERICA— THE ANDES EEGIONS. 



the slopes, the quebrada (gorge) expands to a broad lacustrine basin, which was 

 afterwards discharged through a ravine caused by erosion. 



The houses of La Paz are constructed on both sides of the rivulet, whence a 

 view is commanded of the lower valleys beyond the winding and verdant 

 quebrada. But the city lies too high for its gardens and promenades skirting the 

 torrent to nourish any but a stunted growth of hardy apples and other trees 

 which, hoVï^ever, retain their foliage through the winter. Towards the south-east 

 the horizon is bounded by the sparkling crest of Illimani. The La Paz torrent, 

 as well as the neighbouring brooks, washes down auriferous sands. But the local 

 mining industry has no longer the importance that it formerly possessed, and 

 La Paz owes its present prosperity to the traffic carried on with the agricultural 

 districts of the Yungas, which here exchange their produce for foreign wares. 



Fig. 144.— La Paz and Envieoxs. 



Scale 1 : 2,000,000. 



Ef'.' West or ureenwicri 



3S Miles. 



The only noteworthy monument is the sumptuous cathedral, built at a time when 

 the silver-mines of Potosi were controlling the money markets of the world. 

 European culture is represented by a university, some high schools, and other 

 educational establishments. 



Below the gorge the La Paz takes the name of Beni, and is joined by several 

 auriferous streams from the great mining district, which is approached b}^ several 

 difficult routes, such as those of the Pio Coroico, or of the Sorata (Caca or 

 Maipiri). Towards the source of this river stands the health resort of Sorata, a 

 large place before the insurrection of Tupac Amaru in the eighteenth century. 

 Here all tlie Spaniards of the surrounding districts had taken refuge ; but instead 

 of waiting to reduce them by siege operations, the descendant of the Incas created 

 a temporary reservoir higher up, and then suddenly discharged its contents on the 

 doomed city. Those who survived the avalanche of slush and water perished by 



