Elevation
Puno elevation and altitude
Puno, Peru is 12,441 feet (3,792 meters) above sea level — more than a mile high. Elevation and altitude mean the same thing here: the height of the city above the sea.
What 12,441 feet means in Puno
Among the 689 cities on this site, Puno is one of the highest. At 12,441 ft the air is thin enough that most visitors notice it: stairs and hills feel harder for the first few days.
Air pressure. Air pressure falls as you climb, about 1 inHg for every 1,000 ft near the ground. In Puno a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 18.70 inHg on an average day, while the weather forecast still quotes a sea-level number near 29.92 inHg.
Cooking. Water boils at about 189 °F (87.1 °C) here, so boiled foods cook more slowly and baking recipes often need small high-altitude adjustments. Boiling point at altitude
Where the number comes from. The elevation is for the city center point in the GeoNames gazetteer, taken from a digital elevation model. To check the exact height where you are standing, use What is my elevation? or What is my altitude?
Elevation of places near Puno
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juliaca, Peru | 12,579 | 3,834 | 25 mi |
| Arequipa, Peru | 7,864 | 2,397 | 108 mi |
| El Alto, Bolivia | 13,091 | 3,990 | 132 mi |
| La Paz, Bolivia | 12,408 | 3,782 | 132 mi |
| Cusco, Peru | 10,866 | 3,312 | 206 mi |
| Oruro, Bolivia | 12,746 | 3,885 | 243 mi |
| Machu Picchu, Peru | 7,972 | 2,430 | 250 mi |
| Cochabamba, Bolivia | 8,323 | 2,537 | 277 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation or altitude of Puno?
Puno, Peru is about 12,441 feet (3,792 meters) above sea level, measured at the city center. Neighborhoods higher or lower in the city can differ by a few hundred feet.
What is the air pressure in Puno because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 12,441 ft is about 18.70 inHg (633 hPa), 63% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 63% as much oxygen as at sea level.
At what temperature does water boil in Puno?
About 189 °F (87.1 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.