Do you know the closest place on Earth to the sun and space? Geographically and scientifically, the farthest part of the earth is Mount Chimborazo, located in Ecuador, South America.
Mount Everest is the highest point above sea level. However, our earth is slightly higher in the middle near the equator. Measured from the center of the Earth at this altitude, the peak of Chimborazo is closest to space. The entire settlement resides on the slopes of this rugged and cold, windless hill.
The peak of Chimborazo is 6,268 meters above sea level. It is just dangerous glaciers, but below it there are huge grasslands at an altitude of 3,500 to 4,200 meters. This cold and remote area is full of small villages. It is home to a few thousand people from the Quechua and Puruha indigenous communities. The ancestors of these men chose this steep mountain as their home centuries ago, and they continue that tradition today.
Low oxygen in the air and amazing physical capacity
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If you suddenly climb to such a height, it will be difficult to breathe. Headaches and dizziness will occur. But the people who live there are miracles of nature. Their bodies, which have lived here for generations, have adapted to this oxygen-deficient environment. Nights are extremely cold and temperatures often drop below freezing. The cold air blows continuously.
To protect themselves from these winds and cold, people build mud houses called chozas. The roofs of these houses are covered with a thick layer of dry grass. These houses absorb sunlight during the day and stay hot like a furnace at night.
People drink hot herbal tea. He also drinks soup made from potatoes, cheese and avocado. Meat is an important part of their diet. Their livelihood depends more on animal husbandry than agriculture.
The area is home to wool-producing animals such as llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. Their wool is used to make traditional thick fabrics and ponchos. Which protects them from the cold. The traditional men’s attire is called a ‘poncho’. Women wear long woolen skirts and shawls. The bright red, blue, and green colors of their clothes stand out against the landscape of brown and snow. Llamas are their most reliable companions for carrying goods on steep slopes.
The people of Chimborazo think that this mountain is not just stone and ice. They call it ‘Father Chimborazo’. They consider it their protector. They believe that the unhappiness of the mountains will bring storms. Therefore, they seek its blessings before farming or doing any auspicious work.
There is a very old and unique tradition associated with this mountain: ‘Huileros’. Huileros means ice cutters. For centuries, its people traveled the dangerous glaciers of the mountains, cut large chunks of ice, swept through the grass, and sold them in the towns below. In the modern era, this tradition has almost disappeared. But the connection of the mountain people to the snow tells the story of their struggle and resilience.
The roof of the world is changing
Today, the winds of change have reached this closest neighborhood to the sun. Chimborazo’s glaciers are melting rapidly due to global warming. This could lead to a serious water crisis for these settlements in the future. Many young people are migrating to cities for a better future.
Meanwhile, people living in the hills have embraced community tourism. They now serve as guides for hikers and climbers around the world. The women earn their livelihood by selling their handwoven woollen clothes to tourists.
The inhabitants of Chimborazo teach us that no matter how limited the facilities are and how dangerous the wind may be, one can turn even the harsh attitude of the sun into one’s neighbor if one is determined. After all, not everyone on earth has the honor of being known as “the closest neighbor to the sun”! –Agency
