Here, Graves Are Rented Out; Bodies Are Evicted If Rent Is Not Paid
There is a place in the world where people find themselves needing to rent space even after death.
While alive, renting a home is often a necessity for human beings. However, there exists a place on this earth where people are compelled to rent a space even after they have passed away. We are speaking of a cemetery where individuals can rent a grave in which to bury their relatives. This cemetery is located in Bolivia.
The largest cemetery in La Paz, Bolivia, is the ‘Cementerio General’. Here, people are allotted graves on a rental basis for the interment of their relatives. Each year, this cemetery accommodates and cares for up to 50,000 bodies.
People find themselves needing to rent space even after death
Typically, bodies are initially buried according to Western customs or placed within a crypt. Subsequently—within a period of ten years—they are exhumed and cremated. Following cremation, families have the option to rent small niches built into the cemetery walls—resembling small vaults sealed with glass plates—to house the ashes or bones.
These spaces are used to display mementos of the deceased, their remains, and floral offerings.
Each wall features hundreds of such small compartments. Some walls have been extended vertically to such an extent that they resemble three- or four-story apartment blocks. The cemetery is a bustling, lively place, with a constant flow of visitors coming and going to visit their deceased relatives, offer fresh flowers, or tend to the memorials.
Standing within the 'Cementerio General'—Bolivia's largest cemetery—one is struck by the reality that death is a multi-million-dollar industry worldwide, and La Paz is certainly no exception. With astonishing efficiency—provided the necessary fees are paid—the government handles the care of up to 50,000 bodies annually and subsequently performs their cremation.
The facility spans an area of 210 acres. It holds the remains of approximately two million bodies. Here, individuals are granted a lease to bury a body for a period of only five years. Upon the completion of this five-year term, the time comes to pay the renewal fee; consequently, a notice is posted informing people that failure to pay the rent will necessitate the vacating of the grave.
If the grave is not vacated within the stipulated time, the body will be exhumed and disposed of. Therefore, to safeguard the remains of their kin, people often rent a small niche on the cemetery wall, where they arrange and preserve the cherished memories of their loved ones.
