Perched at 5,100 meters (16,732 feet) in the Peruvian Andes, La Rinconada is the highest permanent human settlement on Earth.
Often dubbed the “closest town to space,” it sits nearly three miles above sea level—higher than the peak of Mont Blanc, Europe’s tallest mountain. Despite its extreme altitude, approximately 50,000 people call it home, drawn by the promise of gold in the nearby mines.
Life in La Rinconada is marked by severe challenges. The thin air contains only about half the oxygen found at sea level, leading to chronic mountain sickness (CMS) in roughly 25% of residents. Symptoms of CMS include dizziness, palpitations, and fatigue. The town also lacks basic infrastructure—there’s no running water, sewage system, or garbage disposal. Electricity was only introduced in the 2000s, and even then, it's unreliable.
The gold mining industry here operates under the informal "cachorreo" system, where miners work for 30 days without pay, keeping any gold they find on the final day. This precarious arrangement often leads to exploitation and unsafe working conditions.
Despite these hardships, La Rinconada remains a testament to human resilience. Its residents endure extreme conditions in pursuit of a better life, making it a unique and enduring symbol of endurance at the edge of the world.
The European Commission has warned Meta that it may face daily fines starting 27 June if its modified pay-or-consent advertising model fails to meet EU antitrust requirements under the Digital Markets Act.
Germany’s data protection commissioner has called on Apple and Google to block the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from their platforms over illegal data transfers and privacy concerns.
Azerbaijan’s top general observed major drills in Türkiye and met senior Turkish defence leaders, underscoring the allies’ growing military partnership.
Nike plans to reduce its reliance on China for U.S.-bound products to offset the financial blow from President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, as the sportswear giant posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and a milder revenue forecast.
Azerbaijan and China have deepened energy cooperation, with new agreements signed to advance green energy initiatives and improve Azerbaijan’s electricity transmission system in line with its renewable energy targets.
Heatwaves gripping Europe have pushed temperatures above 40°C, fueling wildfires and triggering weather alerts across several countries.
The UK government has eased its travel advice for Israel as the final evacuation flight for British nationals prepares to depart Tel Aviv on Sunday.
President Donald Trump said Friday he believes any potential conflict with North Korea can be resolved, pointing to his strong relationship with leader Kim Jong Un.
The US stock market closed at record highs Friday, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rebounding from late-session losses triggered by trade tensions with Canada.
The U.S. Senate on Friday rejected a Democratic-led effort to block President Donald Trump from launching further military action against Iran without congressional approval.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to shelter in place amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as part of a broader global security alert issued by Washington.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
In a televised address on Saturday night, U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced that American forces, in coordination with Israel, had conducted precision strikes on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, aiming to dismantle Tehran’s enrichment capabilities.
The UK government has eased its travel advice for Israel as the final evacuation flight for British nationals prepares to depart Tel Aviv on Sunday.
President Donald Trump said Friday he believes any potential conflict with North Korea can be resolved, pointing to his strong relationship with leader Kim Jong Un.
The U.S. Senate on Friday rejected a Democratic-led effort to block President Donald Trump from launching further military action against Iran without congressional approval.
President Donald Trump said Friday he believes a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas could be reached within a week, following fresh diplomatic efforts.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News, accusing the network of distorting facts about his phone call with President Donald Trump.
Heatwaves gripping Europe have pushed temperatures above 40°C, fueling wildfires and triggering weather alerts across several countries.
The UK government has eased its travel advice for Israel as the final evacuation flight for British nationals prepares to depart Tel Aviv on Sunday.
President Donald Trump said Friday he believes any potential conflict with North Korea can be resolved, pointing to his strong relationship with leader Kim Jong Un.
The US stock market closed at record highs Friday, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rebounding from late-session losses triggered by trade tensions with Canada.
The U.S. Senate on Friday rejected a Democratic-led effort to block President Donald Trump from launching further military action against Iran without congressional approval.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment