The video documents a visit to La Rinconada, the highest city in the world, located in Peru at an altitude of over 5,100 meters above sea level. Despite its breathtaking landscapes and snow-capped peaks, the city is characterized by violence, exploitation, pollution, and inhuman living conditions. Over 50,000 people live in La Rinconada, mostly miners who work in harsh conditions with little to no access to basic services like drinkable water, sanitation, and healthcare.
The video showcases the harsh realities of life in La Rinconada, including:
* Miners living in makeshift houses made of zinc sheets with no insulation, making it impossible to retain heat.
* People drinking water contaminated with mercury, which can cause aggression and other health problems.
* The lack of basic services like sanitation, healthcare, and education.
* The city's reliance on mining, which has created a culture of exploitation and violence.
* The presence of brothels and human trafficking.
The video also explores the economic realities of mining in La Rinconada, where miners work in exchange for a chance to find gold and become rich. The mining company uses a system called "cachorreo," where miners work 18 days for the company and 2 days for themselves, with the hope of finding gold and striking it rich. However, this system often leads to debt, poverty, and violence.
The video concludes with a visit to an abandoned mine tunnel, where the creator reflects on the harsh realities of life in La Rinconada and the sacrifices people make to live and work in this unforgiving environment.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. La Rinconada is the highest city on the planet, with an altitude of over 5,100 meters above sea level.
2. Above 5,000 meters, the altitude is not suitable for human life.
3. The city has a population of between 50,000 and 70,000 people.
4. The average temperature in La Rinconada is around 1 degree Celsius, and it can drop below zero.
5. The city has no sewer system, and waste is thrown out onto the streets.
6. There is no garbage collection service in La Rinconada.
7. The city has a high level of pollution due to mining activities.
8. The water in La Rinconada is not drinkable, and people have to drink water contaminated with mercury.
9. Mercury consumption can cause aggression, which may be related to the high levels of violence in the city.
10. The main activity in La Rinconada is mining, and the city is home to many mines.
11. Miners work from Monday to Friday and have Saturday and Sunday off.
12. Miners work 18 days a month for the mining company and 2 days for themselves.
13. If miners find gold or precious minerals during their 2-day work period, they can become rich, but if they don't, they have to go into debt to cover their expenses.
14. Peru is the largest exporter of gold in Latin America, extracting around 150 tons per year.
15. La Rinconada has been exploited for mining for around 40 years.
16. The city has a high level of human trafficking, with thousands of women caught up in the network.
17. The city has a large number of brothels, and many men visit them to forget their struggles.
18. The city center has a lot of commerce, including gold purchases, cellphone sales, and fruit and vegetable markets.