La Rinconada in Perú, the highest city on earth
Situated at an elevation of 5,100 metres above sea level, La Rinconada stands as the permanent settlement located at the highest elevation in the world. Nested in the Puno region of Peru, this historic mining town boasts abundant gold reserves. Following the increase in the price of gold between 2001 and 2009, the population of La Rinconada saw a significant growth, despite the poor living conditions of the area: because of the altitude, the oxygen concentration is very low – around 50% less than at sea level.
This image of La Rinconada was acquired by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites on 8 September 2023.
Open data from Copernicus Sentinel satellites is used to monitor key parameters for the design and implementation of sustainable urban policies in cities around the world.
