The Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable Lake of the world. It is located between Peru and Bolivia at 3812 meters (12 507 feet) above sea level.
This lake is the second largest lake of South America after the Maracaibo Lake in Venezuela. Nevertheless, the Maracaibo lake is connected to the Ocean, therefore, many scientists consider the lake Titicaca, the largest lake of South America.
Lake Titicaca covers around 3200 square miles and extends from northwest to southeast for a distance of 190 kilometers (120 miles). It is 80 Km (50 miles) across at its widest point and its maximum depth is around 360 meters (1181 feet).
The meaning of the lake’s name is not absolutely clear but, the most accepted version says that the name means puma of stone. The lake is composed by two sub-basins, which are connected by the Tiquina Strait which is around 800 meters (2620 feet) wide.
The largest sub-lake is known as Chucuito, whose maximum depth is around 360 meters; where as the small sub-lake is called Huiñamarca, being its depth only 45 meters. Several rivers flow into Lake Titicaca, being the most important the rivers Ramis, Coata, Ilave, Huancane and Suche. Besides, there is another outlet river, named Desaguadero (that means drainer).
The lake has also around 41 islands; several of them are populated since several centuries ago. One of these islands is Amantani, which hosts around 800 families; this island has also several ruins which were constructed by the ancient civilizations that inhabited the region.
Some other important islands of the lake are “Taquile”, whose inhabitants are famous by their beautiful textile handicrafts and the “Isla del Sol” (Sun Island) which was a sacred place to the Incas and Aymaras. Nevertheless, the most representative islands of the Titicaca are the Uros’ Islands. The Uros are an ethnic group that lives on artificial islands also called Uros.
These artificial islands were constructed by this people, using totora (floating reeds). The Uros are without doubt one of the most impressive attractions of the Lake Titicaca.
The climate in the region of the lake is very peculiar with notorious variations in the temperatures between the day and the night. The dry season in the zone is from May to October, this is the best time to visit the lake; since, the temperatures during day can reach 25ºC (77ºF); nevertheless at night, temperatures can decrease until -2ºC (28ºF).
The Lake hosts an impressive unique flora and fauna, which is composed mainly by wild ducks and fish such as suche and capache. Unfortunately several foreign fish species were introduced in the lake like the trout. These foreign species have endangered the existence of the native species.
Perhaps, the most famous inhabitant of the lake is the Giant Frog of the Titicaca (Telmatobius culeus), which is a unique specie of frog that can reach until 40cm length. This frog has a flaccid extensive skin that allows to capture the scant oxygen of the water.
The lake hosts also a great vegetation which is classified into amphibious, submerged and floating. It highlights la Totora, the Yana Llacho and the Purima. Another plant of the lake is the lentil of water, whose proliferation is destroying the ecosystem of the lake; since, this plant floats on the surface, blocking the passage of sunlight.
This fact causes the death of the flora and fauna that live below the surface. The excessive proliferation of the lentil of water is caused by the contamination produced by organic waste discharged into the lake by the cities around the lake.
The Lake Titicaca is the center of a region where many farmers eke out a living fishing in its icy waters. Many cities and small Towns surrounded the lake; the largest and most important of them is Puno a city located on the Peruvian side of the Lake. In the Bolivian side, the town of Copacabana is the most important town, but it is smaller than Puno.
The region of the Lake Titicaca ha been inhabited from many centuries ago. The first civilizations that lived around the lake were the Kolla, the Pucara and the Tiahuanaco.
According to an ancient legend which is known as the legend of Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, the Lake Titicaca was the cradle of the great Inca Empire; since, the first king of the empire. Manco Capac and his wife departed from the Titicaca to the Cusco to found the Great Inca Empire.
The region of the Titicaca was conquered by the Inca Empire in the XV century, during the government of Mayta Capac and became part of the Kollasuyo region.
This region was very important, because of the great number of agricultural products that produced and the mines of silver and gold. Besides, it was also a cattle zone.
During the colonial period, the Lake Titicaca was also an important agriculture and cattle center. The religious orders constructed around the lake several churches in order to convert to Catholicism the population of the Lake. After the Peruvian Independence, Simon Bolivar decided to divide Peru into 2 countries, the current Peru and Bolivia and then the lake stayed between both countries.
During the XX century a railway was constructed from the Mollendo port in the Peruvian coast to Puno. The lake was used then, to transport minerals from Bolivia to Puno and from Puno to the port.
Currently Lake Titicaca is managed by an Autonomous Binational Authority, which is responsible by the preservation of the Lake since 1996. Besides, the lake is used by the Bolivian Naval Force to do naval exercises.
This is a curious fact, because Bolivia has not sea coast; therefore the Titicaca lake is the only place where its Naval Force can exist.
The Lake Titicaca is a popular tourist destination both in Peru and in Bolivia. There are several hotels and travel agencies that offers guided tours and trips through the lake (mainly in Puno, in the Peruvian side).
Lake Titicaca is one of the Natural wonders of South America and one of the most amazing places of the world. Navigating through this wonderful lake is an experience absolutely unforgettable.