We already had the highest and lowest points of each country in our small series. But to what height do people actually live all year round? Time for a look at the highest villages.
The highest inhabited settlements in Peru (La Rinconada) and China (Tuiwa) are more than 5000 meters above sea level. In eight other countries, people still live at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters all year round.
With Juf, Switzerland comes in 42nd place worldwide. In Europe, the 2126 meters of the hamlet of Juf in the municipality of Avers is not surpassed by any settlement that is inhabited all year round. However, in Trepalle (Italy) and Pas de la Casa (Andorra), some houses are a bit higher outside the village center. These are the highest settlements by continent:
On this map you can see exactly where the highest cities of each country are located. We have also added the number of inhabitants to the top 50. After all, twelve municipalities have more than 10,000 inhabitants:
The highest settlement in the world is La Rinconada in Peru. The village near a gold mine is located at 5100 meters above sea level and is only a few kilometers from the border with Bolivia. La Rinconada is long past its prime. More than 30,000 people lived here at peak times. The last count was in 2017: there were still about 7,000. There is no running water and no sewage system.
Tuiwa is also over 5000 meters. At 5070 meters, it spreads out on the north shore of Lake Puma Yumco. The inhabitants of Nest, which belongs to Tibet, live on livestock.
Santa Barbara (Potosi) is located far in the south of Bolivia at 4,774 meters above sea level. At the foot of Cerro Chorolque settlers settled because of the ore deposits. Today, about 2,000 residents still call the village their home.
200 meters below Santa Barbara - and therefore next to the stage - is Karzok in India on Lake Tso Moriri.
The place is experiencing a small revival as the nomadic peoples in the area become more sedentary. More and more people choose Karzok as the permanent center of life.
You may know the Parinacota Volcano behind Chungara Lake, one of the highest lakes in the world, from photos. The place Parinacota at 4400 meters above sea level is less known. It has only about 30 inhabitants.
Back to Asia, more specifically to Dingboche in Nepal. The village in Chukhung Valley is located at 4340 meters above sea level. With the increase in tourism, many lodges have emerged here, such as trekking tourists and mountaineers on the Mount Everest Trek or the road to Island Peak pass here.
Another mining settlement. This time it is Mina Pirquitas at more than 4300 meters above sea level in the north of Argentina. Less than 1000 inhabitants live here.
The first African place in this list: Seqetat Bota. About 100 people live here in the mountains of the Ethiopian region of Amhara at 4,200 meters above sea level.
Qarabolaq - or Qareh Bulaq - is located in the far east of Afghanistan. On the shore of Lake Zorkul and near the border with Tajikistan, people live here at the highest point in Afghanistan.
At the end of the top 10 list, the last settlement at more than 4000 meters. Chatyndy in Osh Province in Kyrgyzstan makes it to this ranking. Unfortunately we don't have a picture of the place.
Source: Blick
I am Ross William, a passionate and experienced news writer with more than four years of experience in the writing industry. I have been working as an author for 24 Instant News Reporters covering the Trending section. With a keen eye for detail, I am able to find stories that capture people’s interest and help them stay informed.
