La Oroya is a city located in the Junin Department of central Peru, situated along the River Mantaro. It serves as the capital of the Yauli Province and sits at an elevation of 3,745 meters on the eastern watershed of the Andes. The city is positioned approximately 176 kilometers east-northeast of the national capital, Lima.
The city is notable for hosting a smelting operation that led to its inclusion in the Blacksmith Institute's 2007 report identifying it as one of "The World's Worst Polluted Places." Additionally, La Oroya serves as the eastern terminus of the Central Highway of Peru.