Highlanders

Highlanders are populations living in mountainous or high-altitude regions. The term encompasses diverse groups across several continents, including the Scottish Highlands, the Ethiopian Highlands, the Andean highlands of Peru and Bolivia, the Himalayan and Tibetan regions of Asia, and the highlands of New Guinea and other parts of Oceania. Highland environments are typically marked by steep terrain, cooler climates, and, at higher elevations, reduced oxygen levels, factors that have shaped patterns of settlement, agriculture, and social organization.

Traditional highland economies combine agriculture, pastoralism, and trade. Common agricultural practices include terracing, crop diversification, and livestock herding adapted to slope and seasonality. Cultural identities can be strongly regional, with distinct languages, music, dress, and social structures that reflect historical isolation and local governance. Highland communities often maintain close kinship networks and may participate in broader national economies through mining, forestry, tourism, or specialized crafts.

Across history, highland regions have experienced fluctuations in control and influence as central governments expanded into or negotiated with mountainous areas. Contemporary highlanders may face challenges such as poverty, limited infrastructure, land insecurity, and environmental pressures including soil erosion and climate change. Scientific study has explored how long-term residence at high altitude influences physiology and has identified genetic adaptations in some highland populations that affect oxygen use and metabolism.