La Rinconada is the highest town in the world, at 5,100 meters. We used to think it’s humanly impossible to live at this altitude, but over 30,000 people do. There is no water, sewage, or garbage collection. Why do they live here? I went there twice, and spoke to nearly one hundred residents, miners, shop owners, teachers, the police chief, and those working in restaurants, hotels, money transfer, laundry, bars, and brothels. On the first part of this article, I covered Why people work in La Rinconada. This second part is about, "Why do they live here?" The highest crime rate in the world La Rinconada has the highest number of murders per capita in the world. The crime rate has increased so much that mines now only operate two shifts, during the day. At all the mines I visited with Richard (read the previous article) signs read "Order to shoot trespassers." I met the Police Chief (photo) to learn what was happening. There are 60 police officers on duty, half the per capita rate than in NYC. The crime rate has declined, he mentioned. They opened a new station where most robberies occur. Undercover agents, dressed like miners, patrol the town. There is no premium for the police officers to live in La Rinconada. They get a minor hardship allowance which raises their salary to $750. They sleep at the station, which is a major improvement. At the old, smaller station, many got sick due to overcrowding. The "twice what you make at home" does not apply to police officers. There are no banks in town, a proxy is the cash transfer shops, but those are not robbed. Frequent robberies occur in the gold buying shops, but they only take the cash, last time $2,500. Sex. Intercourse is 5 times cheaper than a girl's company I was repeatedly told that sex -intercourse- was $10, and a girl's company was $50. I could not believe it, so I checked it out myself. It's true. Miners going to a bar for a girl's company pay $50 for a jar of beer. Companionship lasts up to one hour, or the beer is consumed. Some girls accidentally drop the jar, forcing miners to buy another one. Typically they spend up to $200. See below the "Dubai effect." Everyone told me anecdotes of spiking. One miner, whose photo is on this article, pointed out that he didn't know how he made it back to his room after being drugged. He could have died from hibernation. The Dubai effect I lived in Dubai for three years. Salaries are higher, and one makes twice as much because there are no taxes. Despite that, many spend it all on fancy housing, entertainment, and expensive cars. The credit card debt ratio in Dubai is one of the highest in the world. As part of my interview process, I asked everyone in La Rinconada, "How much do you save?" Unfortunately, most spend it all on drinking and companionship. The safest place to store cash. Hide it underground

1. Why do 30,000 people work here?
At 5,100 meters, it’s the highest town in the world.

2. La Rinconada. The highest town on earth.
>30,000 people live here.
With no water, sewage, or trash collection.
Why?

3. Miners drive the economy.
They work unpaid 3 days,
and get to keep any gold they find the next 2.

4. Others have different jobs.
I spoke to 100 residents to learn,

5. Why do they live here?