La Rinconada, Peru
La Rinconada is a town in the Peruvian Andes near a gold mine. At up to above sea level, it is the highest permanent settlement in the world. Between 2001 and 2009, the population was estimated by National Geographic to have increased to 30,000 people from just a small gold prospector camp because the price of gold rose 235% over that period, although this number has not been reflected by the 2007 or 2017 censuses. Location La Rinconada is a populated center, within the jurisdiction of Ananea District, in San Antonio de Putina Province, Puno Department, Peru. La Rinconada is located in the Janca region, according to the classification of Pulgar Vidal, thus being the highest permanent town in the world. According to the May 2003 issue of National Geographic magazine, La Rinconada is 5,100 meters above sea level. Etymology "La Rinconada" means "The Corner" in Spanish. Geography Topography The town is in the Ananea District, San Antonio de Putina Province. The town lies at a height of to with the center at above sea level, on the side of Mount Ananea and at the foot of a glacier called Auchita, otherwise known as La Bella Durmiente (The Sleeping Beauty).