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At an altitude of 5.100 meters, where oxygen is scarce, the cold is biting and crime is rampant, thousands of people risk their lives every day in search of gold. With no sanitation, only three showers for 30.000 inhabitants and an alarming rate of violence, La Rinconada is a true icy nightmare in the Peruvian Andes.
La Rinconada, in the Peruvian Andes, is the kind of place that defies all human logic. Considered the highest city in the world, it is 5.100 meters above sea level, in an environment so hostile that it seems like something out of a survival movie. The nickname “Devil’s Paradise” is no exaggeration: those who venture there face biting cold, lack of oxygen and a brutal reality. YouTuber Tyler Oliveira decided to see all of this up close and, well… he almost didn’t come back to tell the story.
The dangerous journey to La Rinconada
Tyler left Texas for Peru full of curiosity, but was greeted with a freezing cold -3°C as soon as he stepped foot in the city. And that wasn’t even the worst of it: the extreme altitude quickly took its toll. With dizziness, headaches and the feeling that his body was collapsing, he realized this was no joke.
The oximeter showed 59% oxygen in his blood – a frighteningly low level. Without thinking twice, he had to rush down before his body gave up. Then, more prepared, he tried again the next day. Only this time, it was his cameraman who got sick. No warm welcome in the highest city in the world, just a brutal test of endurance.
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Danger goes beyond altitude in the world's highest city
If the cold and lack of oxygen aren’t enough to scare anyone away, crime might do the trick. La Rinconada isn’t just inhospitable; it’s also dangerous. Tyler has been warned by locals to hide his camera, as robberies, kidnappings and prostitution are common there.
Another YouTuber, from the Yes Theory channel, classified the highest city in the world as the “most suspicious place” he has ever visited. And rightly so. Reports indicate that murders inside the mine tunnels are not uncommon, women are trafficked and fights frequently occur. Without adequate policing, the city has turned into a true lawless Wild West.
The harsh reality of gold mining
La Rinconada’s economy revolves around gold – and not in a fair way. Workers spend 30 full days mining without pay. On the 31st day, they get to keep whatever they find. It sounds crazy, but that’s the reality.
Women do not even have this right. They are prohibited from mining and can only mine the waste discarded by men. in hope to find small traces of the precious metal. To make matters worse, the mercury used in the process contaminates the soil and rivers, seriously affecting the health of the residents of the highest city in the world.
An unsustainable environment
As if the violence and brutal work weren't enough, La Rinconada's infrastructure is almost non-existent. Basic sanitation? Forget it. Only three showers serve the city's 30.000 residents. Trash piles up in the streets and pollution is absurd.
About 25% of the population suffers from hypoxia due to low air pressure. Adapting to extreme altitude takes time, and many end up developing irreversible respiratory problems. Surviving in the highest city in the world is a daily challenge.
The desire for gold keeps the city alive
Even with such absurd conditions, La Rinconada continues to attract people from all over Peru. The dream of getting rich with gold is stronger than fear. Everyone wants the chance to find a nugget that will change their lives, even if it costs them their health.
After his visit, Tyler Oliveira could not hide his admiration for the residents. If he could already feel the devastating effects of the environment in just a few days, how was it possible that thousands of people had lived there their entire lives? He acknowledged the incredible resilience of the population and said that I would never underestimate the impact again of altitude.
