The gold mine of La Rinconada operates under a unique mode called the 'cachorreo' system: miners work there without a fixed salary for a set period, but can then take for themselves all the gold they manage to extract during a limited time. This system represents a true economic lottery for local workers.
Due to the very low temperatures (averaging around 0°C to 5°C throughout the year, which can drop to -20°C), the inhabitants of La Rinconada build their homes using improvised insulating materials, such as pieces of sheet metal, plastic tarps, and reclaimed materials, making their daily lives difficult.
The particularly high altitude of La Rinconada presents a fascinating medical phenomenon. The local inhabitants have generally developed a physiological adaptation known as polycythemia, which involves an increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood to better transport the rarefied oxygen.
Due to the extreme altitude, no trees grow naturally around La Rinconada. The wood needed must be brought in from lower-altitude regions, increasing the daily logistical challenges for the inhabitants.
Mainly the massive presence of gold deposits in the vicinity. The locals are drawn by the possibility of obtaining better incomes linked to gold mining, often seen as an unavoidable economic opportunity despite the risks involved.
To date, few sustainable improvement measures exist, but several humanitarian projects and NGOs are regularly trying to implement health, educational, and social improvement initiatives to support the local residents.
La Rinconada has particularly difficult living conditions due to its cold and humid climate, low oxygen levels, lack of an effective sanitation system, and very limited social infrastructure.
The local inhabitants have gradually acclimatized to the extreme altitude. Their bodies often show biological adaptations, such as an increase in the number of red blood cells, allowing for better oxygenation of the blood despite the rarified air.
Major risks include acute mountain sickness, chronic respiratory disorders, risks associated with mercury contamination used in gold extraction, as well as infectious diseases due to low levels of collective hygiene.
La Rinconada is located at an altitude of about 5,300 meters, making it one of the highest inhabited towns in the world.
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