To visitors to Lake Titicaca, a boat trip to the floating islands is a must. These islands are made and remade from the totora reeds which provide home, sustenance and transportation for their residents. The islands are a boat ride away from Puno on the Peruvian side of the lake. There are about 40 islands.
The totora is a cattail type rush growing native in the lake. Its dense roots support the top layer, whoch rots and must be replaced by stacking more reeds on top of the layer beneath. The islands change in size and more are created as the need arises.
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These floating islands are the home of the Uros tribe, one which pre-dates the Incan civilization. According to their legends, they existed before the sun, when the earth was still dark and cold. They were impervious to drowning or being stuck by lightning. They lost their status as super beings when they disobeyed universal order and mixed with humans, making them susceptible to contempt. They scattered, losing their identity, language and customs. They became the Uro-Aymaras, and now speak Aymara.
The islands are part of the Titicaca National Reserve, created in 1978 to preserve 37 thousand hectares of mash reeds in the south and north sectors of Lake Titicaca.
The floating islands are protected within the Bay of Puno and are home to 2000 or so Uros, who claim to have "black blood" are consequently immune to the cold. They call themselves people of the lake, and consider themselves the owners of the lake and its rivers. They continue living by fishing, weaving and now tourism.
The uros residents of the island create their homes from the reeds. The roofs are waterproof but not humidity resistant. Residents wear layers of clothing, mostly woolen, to protect themselves from the cold, the wind and the sun which at this altitude can burn fiercely.
Peru 27.03-10.04.2004
All pictures by Beate Bjørnevik.
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