What is the highest permanent settlement in the world?

The highest permanent settlement in the world is La Rinconada, a mining town in Peru’s Andes at roughly 5,100 metres above sea level. It sits near Mount Ananea and the La Bella Durmiente glacier in the Puno region, far above the altitude of most cities and towns.

La Rinconada expanded rapidly because of gold mining. Its population grew dramatically during the 2000s as gold prices rose, attracting miners and workers to what had previously been a small prospecting camp. The settlement remains closely tied to informal and semi-formal mining, with harsh working conditions and limited infrastructure.

Life at this elevation is exceptionally difficult. The air contains substantially less oxygen than at sea level, and residents face risks including altitude sickness, freezing temperatures, pollution and poor access to services. The town has an alpine-tundra climate, with no month warm enough for normal tree growth.

People sometimes confuse La Rinconada with Lhasa or El Alto, both of which are high-elevation cities. They are lower, however: Lhasa is around 3,650 metres above sea level and El Alto roughly 4,150 metres. The distinction is also about permanent habitation, not simply the highest temporary camp or research station.