La Rinconada (Peru)
| La Rinconada | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Coordinates | 14 ° 38 ′ S , 69 ° 27 ′ W | ||
| Basic data | |||
| Country | Peru | ||
| Puno | |||
| province | San Antonio de Putina | ||
| ISO 3166-2 | PE-PUN | ||
| District | Ananea | ||
| height | 5100 m | ||
| Residents | 6969 (2017) | ||
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La Rinconada is a settlement in the Puno region in Peru . It is the highest city in the world. There is a gold mine nearby.
geography
The city is located in the Ananea district of the San Antonio de Putina province at an altitude of up to 5100 m on the southern flank of the Cordillera Carabaya , a mountain range of the Peruvian Eastern Cordillera . About 2.5 km further west is the Laguna Rinconada lake .
population
Driven by the sharp rise in the price of gold (more than tripled from 2001 to 2008), around 30,000 additional residents poured into the city. The 2007 census counted 12,183 inhabitants, 10 years later only 6969 inhabitants.
Economy and Infrastructure
The city was created by the nearby gold mine, which is the economic engine. However, conditions are poor. There is neither running water nor a sewer system.
Many miners work in the gold mine under a system called cachorreo . They work for 30 days for free for the mining company, the Corporación Ananea . On the 31st day they are allowed to take as much rock from the mine with them 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 driven properly, accidents with fatal consequences occur again and again. Because of the actions of the Peruvian government against informal mining, there have been repeated strikes and protests in recent months.
environmental issues
Due to the lack of sewerage, the hygienic conditions are devastating. In addition, there is a high level of pollution from the processing of gold ore, especially mercury.
Web links
- Glacier gold by Hildegard Willer
- The Real Price of Gold , National Geographic Magazine, January 2009 (English)
- Documentary at www.alternativchannel.tv (English)
- Between heaven and hell , radio feature by Sebastian Erb
Individual evidence
- ^ A b c Brook Larmer: The Real Price of Gold. In: National Geographic . January 1, 2009, accessed June 13, 2020 .
- ↑ The discontinued Campamiento Aucanquilcha at the sulfur mine of Aucanquilcha was in 5334 m height and was considered the highest permanently populated town.
- ↑ PERU: Region of Piura: Provinces & Places . www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ↑ http://www.infoamazonas.de/2010/04/16/san-antonio-de-putina-puno-zwei-bergfolk-von-fels-erschlagen.html