The Floating Islands

Trip Start Jun 07, 2008
1
23
34
Trip End Sep 14, 2008


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Peru  ,
Monday, August 4, 2008

Last stop in Peru. Still relentlessly cold. Couldn't leave without seeing the floating islands on the world's highest major lake though. Walked down to the docks in the morning and bought my boat ticket. The boat stopped at two islands, the first of which included a helpful explanation of the islands' construction. The Uros people have been living on these man-made piles of floating reeds since before the Inca empire. They apparently pile the reeds on blocks of earth that are tethered together and anchor the whole thing to the lake bottom. The reeds need to be constantly replenished as the ones underwater rot in less than a year. You can feel some give in the "ground" beneath your feet, but it never feels less than stable. I passed a pleasant hour or so laying on the reeds, soaking in the sunshine, before heading back to Puno to plan my border crossing into Bolivia.

More photos from the lake on flickr.
Slideshow Print this entry Puno hotels