Attention all ye mountaineers! If you like your air thin and would like to experience the highest altitudes, visit the world’s highest cities. Tourism-Review.com brings the top 5 highest situated cities in the world published by Bootsnall.com.
TOP 5 HIGHEST SITUATED CITIES IN THE WORLD
Tourism Review News Desk
- Jan 24, 2011
Namche Bazaar, Nepal
(3,500 meters, 11,482 feet)
Namche Bazaar in Nepal was originally built as a trading post of the local inhabitants. Nowadays, it is one of the stopping points for the climbers heading to the Everest base camp. The town sits at the confluence of many trekking trails and also serves as the main trading center for the Khumbu region. The town has its bank, post office and police check. Moreover, a local hotel with a poetic name – Everest View Hotel – offers oxygenated rooms to help lowland visitors with the oxygen-light air.
Lhasa, Tibet
(3,650 meters, 12,002 feet)
The most famous highest situated city of the world is undoubtedly Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. The city has over 250,000 inhabitants and is located in the Himalayas. Traditionally, Lhasa used to be the seat of Dalai Lama. Tenzin Gyatso was forced to leave Tibet by the communist regime in China in 1959 and is now living in India. The city has always been the goal of many pilgrims. All Buddhist temples as well as the famous Potala Palace are tempting attractions. The city is also protected by UNESCO.
Potosi, Bolivia
(4,090 meters, 13,420 feet)
Another of the highest situated cities located in Bolivia. The city that now belongs among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites once used to be a silver mining town and also one of the largest cities in the whole America. Its rich silver mining history has influenced significantly the current identity of local people. In fact, Potosi appears in Cervantes’ Don Quioxte as an idiom for extreme richness.
El Alto, Bolivia
(4,150 meters, 13,615 feet)
El Alto, meaning height in English, is Bolivian highest situated city. Over 650,000 people live there. The town was established when a railroad between the Lake Titicaca and La Paz – the capital city – was under construction. Many travelers are familiar with the city since the airport of La Paz is located right there.
La Rinconada, Peru
(5,100 meters, 16,728 feet)
The highest situated city in the world is located in Peru. With the altitude of 5,100 meters above sea level it is almost unimaginable for majority of people to live there. La Rinconada was officially proclaimed as the highest permanent human habitation in the world by the National Geographic in 2003. The town has about 30,000 inhabitants who mostly work in the local gold mine.
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