Five centuries ago, the Uros people moved onto Lake Titicaca to avoid conflict with the Incas.
They remain there to this day.
They build floating islands by laying reeds upon each other, lasting around 40 years if properly maintained.
Residents make and sell souvenirs such as tapestries and small boats, the proceeds of which go towards solar panels and other conveniences.
The ground was wobbly, and we were stopped from walking in specific directions in case we fell through a patch of rotten reeds into the lake. Some small children have died by falling into the water.
Residents make and sell souvenirs such as tapestries and small boats, the proceeds of which go towards solar panels and other conveniences.
The ground was wobbly, and we were stopped from walking in specific directions in case we fell through a patch of rotten reeds into the lake. Some small children have died by falling into the water.
There appeared to be no young men around, so I asked our guide where they were. He said, "Most of them stay on the mainland to attend university or work, but they return on the weekends to visit their mothers." He also told us their culture will likely disappear entirely within two generations.
The highest lake on earth, Peru
