La Rinconada is a remote mining town in the Peruvian Andes, situated at an altitude of 16,700 feet (5,100 meters), making it the highest permanent settlement in the world. With a population of around 50,000 people, it is an informal gold-mining community where extreme conditions define daily life. The climate is harsh, with temperatures frequently dropping below freezing, and there is no running water or proper sanitation infrastructure. Roads are rough and often impassable due to snow and ice, and access to the town is primarily via treacherous mountain paths. Economic activity revolves around unregulated gold mining, with many workers operating under a system where they labor unpaid for weeks in hopes of finding gold on designated days. The high altitude and poor living conditions contribute to severe health risks, including altitude sickness and heavy metal exposure.
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