Photos

This is a photo of one of the Urus floating villages that can be found on Lake Titicaca.

The island 'platforms' are made from "totora reeds" which are a tall reed which grows along the banks of Lake Titicaca. The platforms of the island are about 60cm thick and as the reeds at the bottom decompose and fragment so new reeds are cut and added to the form a new top layer. The islanders also make their houses and boats from totora reeds.

Small communities first took to living on these man-made islands out on the lake as a way of fleeing enemies and avoiding the early Spanish invaders. Nowadays there is money to be made from visiting tourists and the communities make and sell many handicrafts.

Image framed in Photoshop otherwise as taken.

Regards,

Rich