Lake Titicaca By: Sam Patterson

Who? The Uros people have been living on the lake for hundreds of years—they were forced to take up residence on the floating islands when the Incas expanded onto their land. On the Peru side, there is a large number of hotels where the main tourism occurs. This is an indigenous community of some 350 families which continues to live within the traditions of the 14th century, according to the principles of Inca life.

What? Lake Titicaca is in the Andes Mountains at an altitude of around 12,500 feet and earns the highest navigable lake in the world. It is sometimes used by the Bolivian Naval Force for naval exercises and is considered a most sacred place when it comes to Inca religion and mythology. There are 41 islands where the Uros people call home.

Where? The lake is located at the northern end of the endorheic Altiplano basin in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia. The western part of the lake in in the Puno Region of Peru, and the eastern side is in the Bolivian La Paz. It’s 3,811 m above sea level.

 It was formed sixty million years back  Lake Titicaca was discovered centuries ago and was extremely symbolic to the Inca people  Lake Titicaca was founded by the Spanish in 1668 when the Conquistadors were exploring South America for gold and other treasures.

Why? This giant lake is formed when earth quakes of the pre-ice age that shook the Andes Mountain ranges between the mountain ranges which was split in to two, and got filled by the water from the melting glaciers. With the end of the ice-age the melting snow formed a giant lake that was named Lake Titicaca.

How? The water in Lake Titicaca comes from rainfall and melt water. Up to 20 rivers feed into the lake, and glaciers in the sierra feed five major rivers into it.

Past? In 2000, archaeologists discovered an ancient temple submerged in the depths of Lake Titicaca, it is estimated to be between 1,000 and 1,500 years old. The early Aymara, Tiwanaku, and Incan people who lived on its shores all considered it to be sacred. The origin of the name Titicaca is unknown.

Present? Since 2000 lake Titicaca has experienced constant declining water levels. Between April and November 2009 the water level has sunk by 81 cm and it’s reached the lowest level since It’s caused by shortened raining seasons.

How does it shape life in ______? Lake Titicaca provides life in its water such as trout, king fish, ducks, gooses, flamingoes and seagulls. Each year, on January 18, locals dressed in traditional clothes climb the two hills, Mother Earth and Father Earth. The Incas believed that Lake Titicaca was the birthplace of mankind – And because of that for centuries, Lake Titicaca has held great religious and economic significance

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