Quechua Highland People
Highland Quechua (8-10 million total, millions at high altitude) inhabit the Andes mountains from Colombia to Argentina at 2,500-4,500 meters. Descendants of the Inca Empire, they have evolved larger lung capacity, more efficient oxygen metabolism, and cardiovascular adaptations. Terraced agriculture, alpaca herding, traditional textiles, and Quechua language preservation define this major Andean civilization thriving at extreme altitude.