Cerro de Pasco, Mining city in central Peruvian Andes.
Located at 4,338 meters above sea level, Cerro de Pasco contains extensive deposits of silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, and bismuth minerals.
The discovery of silver deposits in 1630 transformed this settlement into a global silver production center that operated continuously for two centuries.
The urban landscape reflects the integration of mining operations, with indigenous workers and international mining professionals forming distinct social groups within the community.
The city connects to Lima through a 300-kilometer railway and highway system, providing transportation for both mining products and residents.
The central area features an enormous open-pit mine that has gradually consumed parts of the original city, necessitating the creation of new neighborhoods.
Location: Pasco Department
Inception: 1578
Elevation above the sea: 4,330 m
GPS coordinates: -10.68359,-76.25611
Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:22
This collection includes towns established above 3,000 meters altitude, mainly located in the Andes and on Asian highlands. These urban centers house several million inhabitants who live daily under conditions where oxygen is scarce. La Rinconada in Peru reaches 5,300 meters, making it the highest city in the world, while La Paz in Bolivia, at 3,639 meters, has over 1.6 million residents. Sites with historical significance such as Potosí in Bolivia, founded in the 16th century for its silver mines and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Lhasa in Tibet, the former capital of the Tibetan kingdom with dozens of Buddhist temples including the renowned Jokhang Temple, are included. Additionally, towns like Puno in Peru or Shigatse in China demonstrate human adaptation to extreme environments, creating communities of hundreds of thousands. These destinations offer a look into Andean and Himalayan cultures shaped by elevation and provide exceptional travel experiences.
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