Why do people build mountain cities? It would seem that life in the valley is much easier. It is colder in the mountains, the nature is harsh, the weather conditions are very difficult, and it is often very difficult to grow anything here. But when you look at these works of human hands, their beauty often takes your breath away, and you completely forget that such villages seem to be completely uncomfortable. But people defy nature. Tourists who visit these cities assure that they are like a fairy tale. In this article, we will talk about the five most interesting mountain cities in the world located on different continents of the globe. Among them there are small settlements, almost villages, and even large cities. Sometimes they look like heaven, sometimes like hell, reflecting the infinite diversity of our planet.
Lhasa
One of the most famous mountain cities is the mysterious capital of Tibet. She is very high. Not everyone can live in such a place. After all, Lhasa is located at an altitude of three and a half kilometers. Nevertheless, 250 thousand people live here permanently. Lhasa has long been considered the main city of Tibetan Buddhism, and untilAfter the Chinese conquest, this city was the throne of the spiritual leaders of this religion - the Dalai Lamas. Now Lhasa has been turned into a real open-air museum. Although the current Dalai Lama lives in exile in India, pilgrims still flock to the city. For many centuries it was closed to Europeans, but now all its attractions are available to tourists, both temples and palaces, including the residence of the rulers of Tibet, the Potala. But to get to Tibet, including Lhasa, you need to get a special permit, one Chinese visa is not enough for this.
Andorra la Vella
This is one of the highest capitals in Europe. It originated in the ninth century and is located in the very center of a picturesque valley surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Pyrenees. Andorra la Vella is the capital of a tiny principality. Everything here is geared towards tourists. Since there are practically no taxes in this country, the goods in it are much cheaper than those of its neighbors, which means that people come here for shopping. In the summer you will have walks in the mountains (gorges, waterfalls, peaks with panoramic views), and in winter Andorra la Vella turns into a ski resort, and almost all of its hotels have access to ski lifts. And there are gorgeous thermal springs here, allowing you to relax perfectly.
Rhonda
This amazing mountain town is located in the Spanish province of Andalusia. It was built over the El Tajo Gorge, at an altitude of 750 meters above sea level, back in the days of the ancient Phoenicians. The Guadalevín River cut a deep canyon that divided the cityin two. It was owned by the Romans, and the Celts, and the Moors, and every nation left its mark here in stone. In this city, sights of stunning beauty are literally at every turn, and the landscapes that open from every street are simply fantastic. It is built up with the famous Andalusian white houses under tiled roofs and became famous as the birthplace of bullfighting. Tourists, as a rule, admire the New Bridge built right above the gorge, at a height of almost a hundred meters. Centuries and cultures have mixed here, and literally every building has its own mystical aura, especially when you look at their fragile architecture clinging to the rocks. The city is extremely colorful. You can get here either by your own car or by bus from Malaga.
La Rinconada
National Geographic magazine officially recognized this Peruvian city as the highest mountain in the world. 30 thousand people live here, who are engaged in gold mining. La Rinconada is located at a stunning height of 5100 meters above sea level. It is located in the Andes, next to a gold mine, almost on permafrost. Many people who live here have a lack of oxygen in their blood. But new gold miners continue to arrive here in the hope of making money. Previously, there was a small village where local tribes lived. But after the discovery of the gold mine, many people rushed here. Even during the day, the temperature rarely rises above zero at such an altitude. Due to the production process, many toxic substances are emitted here, including mercury, there areglacial floods and very strong icy winds. In the city itself there is no infrastructure, municipal government, police or any state institutions, only a small school. Even electricity appeared there only in 2012. The workers have money, but there is nothing to spend it on. People live in metal shacks, no one cleans up the garbage. Therefore, the level of alcoholism and crime among the locals is very high.
Cerro de Pasco
Another city of this kind is also located in the Andes. It is located slightly lower than La Rinconada, at an altitude of 4380 meters. It is the administrative center of the whole region, and here they are mainly engaged in mining. Silver has been mined here since the 16th century, but the life has become somewhat depleted. Therefore, the main purpose of production is zinc and lead. This deposit has a historical character, since at first the Incas mined silver here, then the conquistadors, and then it began to belong to the Spanish crown. But the developments here are carried out in a civilized manner, they are led by an American company, representative offices of foreign states have been opened, and a railway has been laid. A mountain town like Cerro de Pasco even has a sports (football) club. 70 thousand people live here.
De facto capital of Bolivia
But La Paz belongs to a completely different kind of cities located in the mountains of South America. Its full name in translation means "Our Lady of Peace". Although officially it is an administrative region of the country, in fact it isis the capital of the state. Here is the residence of the president and the parliament sits. The city is located at an altitude of 3650 meters, but it is built in the classic colonial style: cathedrals, squares, beautiful buildings. Most of the inhabitants wear bright national Bolivian clothes. There is the famous Witch Market, which sells various accessories for real witchcraft. Despite the cool weather - the temperature here does not exceed 20 degrees - the city has a university, cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, and museums. One of them is dedicated to the coque plant - this is a unique institution that has no equal in the world. The most tourist season in La Paz is August, when the weather in the city is most comfortable.
