Located at an altitude of 16,732 feet (5,100 meter) in the remote Peruvian Andes, La Rinconada in Peru is regarded as the highest city in the world. The city is located in the Ananea District, San Antonio de Putina Province. The mountainous city has a population of more than 50,000. However, it was an old gold-mining camp and has grown into 'major city' status recently.
The economy of the city is mainly based on the production of gold in the nearby mine. However, the infrastructure of the city remains poor. There is no plumbing or any other form of sanitation system in the city. There is absolutely no reason to settle in as harsh a climate as La Rinconada where the weather remains freezing throughout the year. La Rinconada is almost isolated as the only way in and out of the town is via icy roads that are rarely accessible by truck.
But people, almost all the residents of the city, migrated here hoping to secure work and stake their claim in the riches. The allure of the gold mine has brought cheap labor willing to endure the hellish conditions for the last 45 years. The people of La Rinconada have been fighting for years to survive in a climate where most people on this world would be struggling to catch their breath.
The economy of the city is mainly based on the production of gold in the nearby mine. However, the infrastructure of the city remains poor. There is no plumbing or any other form of sanitation system in the city. There is absolutely no reason to settle in as harsh a climate as La Rinconada where the weather remains freezing throughout the year. La Rinconada is almost isolated as the only way in and out of the town is via icy roads that are rarely accessible by truck.
But people, almost all the residents of the city, migrated here hoping to secure work and stake their claim in the riches. The allure of the gold mine has brought cheap labor willing to endure the hellish conditions for the last 45 years. The people of La Rinconada have been fighting for years to survive in a climate where most people on this world would be struggling to catch their breath.
