Lake Titicaca is with an altitude of 3815 m.a.s.l. the highest lake in the world where shipping is possible. It involves a territory of about 36,189 hectars, is 195 km long and 65 km broad. The lake gets as deep as 300 m. About 70 % of the lake are Peruvian state, the remaining 30 % belong to Bolivia. There are more than 40 islands that stick out of the lake including the two most important ones, Amantani and Taquile which are situated on the Peruvian side. Close to Puno town selfmade reed islands on which the descendents of the Uro tribe live. For centuries they have been earning their living with the lake. The legend tells that once upon a time the God Con
Tici Wiracocha rose from the depth of Lake Titicaca and founded
the well-known Tiwanaku-culture. Also the Inca had their origin
in the Lake of the Andes. The name is a combination of the two Aymara
words titi (Puma) and kaka (Kopf) as the lake's shape
resembles a Puma. In 1978 Lake Titicaca has been declared National Nature Reserve in order to preserve the 37,000 hectar wide totora-area (reed mace). The reserve is devided in two parts. One part is the region around Huancané and Ramis the other part is Puno. The zone hosts many native bird species, about 60 settling species and a variety of migratory birds. Additionally diverse fish species as well as 18 native amphibians live in this nature reservate. The islands Huaca Huacani, Toranipata and Santa María are part of the preserved area. Motorboats commute daily on Lake Titicaca with the destinations Taquile and Amantani. Copacabana and the Islands of the Sun and the Moon in Bolivia can be reached by hydrofoil.
About 4 hours away by boat and 40 km off Puno lies the biggest island of the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca: Amantani. Amantani is historically significant. Yet in pre-Inca times the island was populated. Terraces of fields and the Pachamama sanctuary on the highest point (4130 m) give evidence. Today more than 3000 people live on this island and they communicate in Aymara. Especially women are to be seen as their husbands went to the city in order to get a job. The women earn their living with agriculture as well as providing lodging for tourists. When visiting the islands with staying overnight they will very much welcome small presents such as candles, oil, rice and fresh fruit.
The island Taquile is also known as the "Island
of the knitting men" and lies 35 km away from Puno. Like Amantani
there have been living people on Taquile for centuries. Terrace
fields amd small archaeological sites give proof of a population
in ancient times. On Taquile many festivals are celebrated of which
the festival of the Holy Apostles in the end of July is the most
famous.
The floating reed islands of the descendants of the
Uro are an obligation for everyone who visits Lake Titicaca. In
former times the Uro used to settle on those 50 islands. Today their
descendants lives here and earn their living with fishing and with
selling souvenirs to tourists. The islands also host a school, a
community building and a watchout tower. People commute on reed
boats between the islands which are traditionally built from totora
reed (Scirpus totora). When maintained regularly they last
for a few years. The families help each other with the constructions. |
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