Tomás Frías is a province in the northern parts of the Bolivian Potosí Department. Its capital is Potosí which is also the capital of the department. The province is named after the former president Tomás Frías Ametller.

Location

Tomás Frías province is one of sixteen provinces in the Potosí Department. It is located between 19° 00' und 19° 50' South and between 65° 32' und 66° 24' West. It borders Chayanta Province in the north, Oruro Department in the northwest, Antonio Quijarro Province in the southwest, José María Linares Province in the south, and Cornelio Saavedra Province in the east. The province extends over 115 km from east to west and from north to south.

Geography

The Potosí mountain range traverses the province. Some of the highest mountains of the province are listed below: • Achakana • Achakanani • Chawpi Urqu (Potosí) • Chawpi Urqu (Yocalla) • Chuqi Kanlliyuq • Jach'a Q'awa • Jalsuri • Janq'u Janq'u • Jatun Ch'utu • Jatun Pampa • Jatun Qaqa • Jatun Q'asa (Umallani) • Jatun Q'asa (Yocalla) • Kuntur Maña • Kuntur Nasa (Tinguipaya) • Kuntur Nasa (Yocalla) • Kuntur Qaqa • Kunturiri (Tinguipaya) • Kunturiri (Yocalla) • Lik'ichiri • Malmisa • Pari Chata • Pä Qullu Punta • Puka Qucha Punta • Puka Urqu • P'ukru • Qiwiña Punta • Qura Waña • Q'illu Kancha • Salla Punta • Sayasta • Turini • T'inki • T'ula P'ujru • Wak'ani • Wankarani • Warmi Wañuna • Waylla Tira • Waylla Qullu • Waylla Q'asa • Waylla Unu • Wayllita Punta • Wayna Potosí • Wayra Wasi • Wayra Wasi (Potosí-Yocalla) • Wichhu Qullu • Wila Salla • Wila Salla (Oruro-Potosí) • Wila Sirka • Yana Qaqa • Yuraq Q'asa • Yuraq Urqu

Division

The province comprises four municipalities which are further subdivided into cantons.

Population

The main language of the province is Spanish, spoken by 84.5%, while 75.5% of the population speak Quechua. The population increased from 167,111 inhabitants (1992 census) to 176,922 (2001 census), an increase of 20%. Capital of the province is Potosí (132,966 inhabitants). 28% of the population have no access to electricity, 50.5% have no sanitary facilities. 21% of the population are employed in agriculture, 8% in mining, 10% in industry, 61% in general services. 92% of the population are Catholics, 5% Protestants. The people are predominantly indigenous citizens of Quechua and Aymara descent.