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Lake Titicaca Guide

Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,800m and South America’s largest freshwater lake is located on the altiplano between Peru and Bolivia. Thought to be part of what was once a vast inland sea the lake is both beautiful and impressive in size covering 8,500 sq km.

Lake Titicaca is a sacred place among indigenous Andean peoples. In touch with the spirit of Mama Qota, or Sacred Mother, they believe that powerful spirits live in the lake's depths.  According to Andean legend, Lake Titicaca was the birthplace of civilization. Viracocha, the creator deity, lightened a dark world by having the sun, moon, and stars rise from the lake to occupy their places in the sky.

Worthy of such mystical associations, Lake Titicaca is a dazzling sight. Its deep azure waters seemingly extend forever across the altiplano, under the monstrously wide sky at an elevation of more than (3,820m/12,532 ft.). The lake covers more than 8,500 sq. km (3,315 sq. miles); it is 176km (109 miles) long and 50km (31 miles) wide. The Peruvian side of the lake has two main islands as well as several smaller ones in addition to the man-made floating islands of the Uros.

The incredible floating Uros Islands of Lake Titicaca have a unique civilization of people living on them – there are no trees, and all of their houses and boats, etc. are made of knitted reeds. It is alleged these people fled from the mainland to escape the Inca in the 13th Century and made their own refuge on these floating islands.

The Island of Amantani is very quiet and has fantastic views across the lake. There are no cars, roads or vehicles. Several hills are topped with ruins, among them are the most famous called Pachamama & Pachatata (Mother Earth & Father Earth). There are eight communities on the island which offer adobe dwellings for the visitors.

Taquile, whose Quechua name some believe was Intika, was part of the Inca Empire and has a number of Inca ruins. The island was one of the last locations in Peru to capitulate to Spanish domination during the Spanish conquest of Peru. It was captured for Carlos V and eventually passed to Count Rodrigo of Taquila, who inspired the island's current name. The Spanish forbade traditional dress and the islanders adopted the Spanish peasant dress that they are known for still using today, which they combine with extraordinarily finely-made Andean-style garments (ponchos, belts, mantles, coca-leaf purses, and others).

Around 1500 Quechua-speaking Indians continue to live in this remote community. The island, seven kilometres long, is devoid of roads and vehicles, and its terraced hills are scattered with pre-Inca ruins. The island itself is almost a living museum where the inhabitants wear traditional dress and are famed for their weaving and knitwear. Knitting on the island is primarily a man´s job!

The main town on the lake on the Peruvian side is Puno. The town is an important centre for Peruvian folklore, enjoying a rich tradition of music and dance. It is also a great place for buying local handicrafts and base for visits to the floating islands of the Uros people along with the more remote islands of Amantaní and Taquile.

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