La Rinconada (Peru)

- 14.631666666667 - 69.4463888888895400Koordinaten: 14 ° 38 ' S, 69 ° 27 ' W

La Rinconada is a settlement in the region of Puno in Peru. It is the highest town in the world. In the vicinity there is a gold mine.

Geography

The city is located in the district of Ananea in the province of San Antonio de Putina in the region of Puno at an altitude of 5100 m above sea level in the Andes Mountains.

Population

Powered by the sharp rise in gold prices, the population has risen in eight years by 235 % to 40,000.

Economy and infrastructure

The town was established by the nearby gold mine, which is the economic engine. However prevail impoverished circumstances. So there is no running water or a sewage system.

Many miners work in the gold mine under the system of the so-called cachorreo. They work for 30 days without pay for the mining company Corporación Ananea. At 31 days, they may take it as much rock from the mine, as they can carry on their shoulders. How much gold is in the rock, is a matter of luck.

Since the tunnels are often not promoted properly, it always comes back to fatal accidents. Because of the actions of the Peruvian government against the informal mining occurred in recent months repeatedly strikes and protests.

Environmental problems

Due to lack of sewerage sanitary conditions are devastating. There is also a heavy load of processing of gold ore, especially by mercury.