The world’s highest mountain laboratory

JUL 01, 1956

High in the mountains of Bolivia is situated a spacious and well‐equipped high‐altitude laboratory. At an altitude of 17 000 feet, it can be reached by auto all year around and virtually unlimited power is brought in on a special high‐tension power line. The story of how the Chacaltaya laboratory was constructed is a testimonial to what can be accomplished by determined physicists even in a relatively unprosperous country.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3060022

Theodore Bowen

About an hour and a half ride over a rough, steeply climbing road from the city of La Paz, Bolivia, brings one to the Chacaltaya High‐Altitude Laboratory. Situated 5220 meters (17 100 feet) above sea level, in one of the poorest and least developed countries in Latin America, one is surprised to find a group of large stone buildings which comprise one of the world’s best equipped high‐altitude laboratories. The road is open throughout the year. The power line from La Paz can supply 1200 kilowatts of reliable electrical power. The buildings provide 2500 square feet of laboratory space as well as living quarters for twelve scientists. Working and living quarters are electrically heated. Living facilities, in addition to three bedrooms, include living room, dining room, kitchen, and two baths. At present, direct current converters to provide up to 420 kilowatts of dc power, enough to operate even the largest of cloud chamber magnets, are being installed. At the same time, living quarters are being enlarged to accommodate eighteen research workers.

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Theodore Bowen, Princeton University.