Peru - Life at extreme altitudes above 4,000 meters

The Peruvian Altiplano is one of the most extreme habitats in the world. Located over 4,000 meters above sea level, the region attracts millions of visitors - and pushes many of them to their physical limits.

But for tens of thousands of people, the highlands are everyday life.
Around La Rinconada, the highest city in the world at 5,300 meters, residents brave freezing temperatures and thin air. Their motivation: a massive gold deposit. Every day, some 10,000 miners, like Arnaldo, venture into life-threatening shafts — often for a wage that barely covers their basic needs. Meanwhile, a small police unit led by Major Aranda fights against lawlessness and the illegal trade in explosives.
Another treasure of the Altiplano is the precious vicuña wool, one of the most expensive in the world. The shy animals that produce it live in the wild and may be sheared only once a year during the traditional "Chakku” hunt — a ritual that unites community, culture, and a connection to nature.

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