Cornelio Saavedra is a province in the north-eastern parts of the Bolivian Potosí Department. The capital of the province is Betanzos with 4,168 inhabitants in the year 2001. The province is named after the president of the Argentine First Junta, Cornelio Saavedra, who was born in Otuyo, Betanzos Municipality.

Location

Cornelio Saavedra province is one of sixteen provinces in the Potosí Department. It is located between 18° 57' and 19° 44' South and between 64° 48' and 65° 39' West. It borders Chuquisaca Department in the northeast, Chayanta Province in the north, Tomás Frías Province in the west, and José María Linares Province in the south and southeast. The province extends over 95 km from east to west and 105 km from north to south.

Division

The province comprises three separate municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.

Population

The main language of the province is Quechua, spoken by 78%, while 47% of the population speaks Spanish. The population increased from 52,659 inhabitants (1992 census) to 58,706 (2001 census), an increase of 11.5%. 80% of the population have no access to electricity, 94% have no sanitary facilities. 69% of the population are employed in agriculture, 1% in mining, 10% in industry, 20% in general services. 89% of the population are Catholics, 8% Protestants. The people are predominantly indigenous citizens of Quechua descent.

Geography

The river Pillku Mayu flows along the northern border of the province.

Images