Nestled in the Peruvian Andes, La Rinconada is the highest permanent settlement on Earth, with its inhabitants living between 16,404 feet and 17,388 feet above sea level. Life in La Rinconada is extremely difficult due to the lack of oxygen, with inhabitants experiencing high altitude sickness, chronic mountain sickness, and other health issues. Despite these challenges, the town has remained a center for gold mining, attracting thousands of miners in search of fortune.