UROS

Lake Titicaca The Uros , Tequile island 2003

The floating islands of the Uros Indians . We took a motor boat ride from Puno out to the floating islands situated amongst the reed beds in the shallow waters of Lake Titicaca .

Lake Titicaca - leaving the hotel on our way to the Uros

We are sailing on the lake

The island of the Uros

These islands are really interesting; they are made strictly out of reeds, all bundled together, tied and anchored to the bottom of the lake . Because the reeds are biodegradable, they have to add new reeds on the surface every month . It sure was interesting to walk around; it's like walking on a cushion, because everything is floating .

My niece

Walking on the island is sort of like walking on a waterbed.

The people of the islands use the totora reed for everything . The island is built of it, their houses and boats are made with it, they cook with it and even eat it . .

They have to be very careful not to fall through the holes in the “island” .

The school

The church

short break A

Cooking outside

Making flour

The boat is also made of ... reed

We are tr ying the boat

On our way to Tequila island

The island is narrow at about 1 Km . wide and 6 to 7 Km . long . The visit is exhausting because of the climb to get to the village and then the 533 steps on the stone stairway down to get to the boat , and because of the altitude ( 13,000 ft above sea level ).

This sign is at the top of the island .

Back to the boat

I can see our boat ! What a relief !

Late afternoon on Lake Titikaka.We are on our way back to the hotel.

Beautiful sun rise on Lake Titicaca