Floating island in the Titicaca (13 pics + text) Bashny.Net

Floating Islands of Uros Indians

If you stand on any of the 48 floating islands of Lake Titicaca, it feels like the earth moves beneath your feet. Like walking on water or swim on this spongy surface.
Long ago that the Uros Indians lived in the vast reed boats, but then they built artificial islands that inhabit since the XIV century. This was a vital necessity. In such a way to avoid encounters with the Uros Indians Aymara, the Incas and the Spanish conquistadors.
The layers of reeds called tortora, mixed with black soil and plant roots, and the island is naturally floats on water. Each month, a man committed to replace the old rotten due to contact with the water layer to a new, also woven from reeds. In huts and boats too limited shelf life.











Today, only a portion of the population has lived on these islands. There are no more indigenous Uros. Language disappeared. By the way, tourism detrimental effect on these places. To the north of the peninsula have Kapachika a half hour boat ride, you can still find traces of primitive life, poorer and more isolated. Those who live here rarely see outsiders. They do not have any mistrust or aggression, but they are special, as well as the island. Unique in the whole world.