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GeographySurprise 5/5Difficulty 3/5Reviewed on September 13, 2026

La Rinconada, in Peru, is the highest permanent settlement in the world.

Why it is true

La Rinconada is at an altitude of about 5,100 metres, in the Peruvian Andes, near a gold mine. About 50,000 people live there permanently, despite the lack of oxygen, intense cold and absence of basic sanitation.

Source: National Geographic

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