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Where It's At
Lake Titicaca is the largest land locked lake in the world
and the highest in terms of the navigability for large vessels.
It lies at 12,500 ft above sea level and sits across the border
of Peru and Bolivia and at such an immense size
and sheer beauty it is a sight of awe and wonder. Her waters
are a mirror of razor sharp clarity, reflecting its deep blued
depths, snow capped mountains and a vast azure sky that demands
your respect.
Myth and History
Lake Titicaca is at the centre of one of the most ancient
world civilisations, that of the Incas. Incan mythology
tells of the birth of the first Incan man and woman on the
Isla del Sol, and blesses the lake as the focal point
for all worship to Pachamama, or Mother Nature.
At dusk the intense, calm beauty of the lake tells the story
of years of the Inca worship which still pervades the area
today. The mysticism and spirituality of the area can be seen
in the countless ruins and traditional communities that occupy
the shores and islands, taking you back to the 14th Century.
Particularly, there are the remains of the City of Tiahuanaca
which lies 15 miles Northeast of the lake. It has been called
the cradle of civilisation, as the city was thought to be
built more than 15,000 years before any civilisation was supposed
to exist!
To date, worship of the lake is still active: supposedly,
it can ensure good weather, safety on her waters, and successful
fishing. Disciplines other than the Incan also embrace the
lake as a focus for speculation on such ancient theories as
the unknown location of the mythical city of Atlantis.
Things to See and Do
There are many islands on the lake: the most sacred is the
Isla Del Sol which is the key to Lake Titicaca's spiritual
significance. The island is situated at the southern end of
the lake and easily accessible by boat from Copacabana.
The island is celebrated primarily as the birth place of the
sun itself, and also the birth of the first Inca man and woman
who created the great Incan Empire. For this reason, this
small island is the most sacred site of the Andes; worship
is still continued at the Temple of the Sun, which
is reached via a steep stone staircase. If you are not used
to the altitude it is wise to take these stairs slowly.The
sun, primary God to the Incas, was worshipped with such ardour
that there is evidence that human sacrifices were made to
the sun - on the stone table on which you might find yourself
tucking into your lunch. It is interesting and worthwhile
whilst in Copacabana, to visit the island in order to understand
Incan history more fully. There is now a small restaurant
and there are a couple of routes varying in difficulty that
make interesting walks.
The 'floating islands' are also interesting, as the
Uros who live there still adhere to some important
traditions, the most unusual being the use of the natural
reeds that grow in the lake. The foundations of these islands
are constructed from reeds which are also used for boats and
even houses. You can take a boat from the lake shore to the
islands and once there, it is customary to buy the reed
handicrafts that the women on the island have made; this
enables them to maintain their way of life. It is important
to remember that this is someone's way of life, not a showcase!
However, a caution to those intrepid explorers: legend has
it that if you fall into the immense depths of the lake you
are, in fact, offering yourself as a sacrifice to Pachamama,
and - perhaps - no one will dare help you out again.
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