Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-20
ROOF Of NEW WORLD.
Titicaca Plateau Twelve Thou
sand Feet in Air.
THE L0FTIEST OF LAKES
Titicaca, With It's Glorious View of
Snow Andes and Its Inca Ruins.
THE VIRGIN OF CoPocABANA
With Virgin of Guadalupe in Mex
leo Worlds Most Famous and
Most Frequented Indian Shrine.
No. II.
BY THEODORE W. MOVES.

Editorial Correspondence Of The Star.
Lake Titicaca, in the high plateau of
Bolivia-Peru is in itself and in its en-
viTonment and historic associations one
OF the most interesting bodies of water
in the world.
Shrinks Lake Ontario to five-s ixths of its
size and then elevate it nearly to the top
Of Pixies Peak and Ti,icaca is repro
and its elevation Of more than 1880 feet.
Or enlarge Lake Tahoe tventy-three
times and almost double its elevation and
Titicaca results. the largest lake in South
America, the most elevated steam-nayi-
gated body of water in the world.
Fringe one border of the lake at dis
lance varying from fifteen TO twenty-five
miles with continuous range Of snow
mountains Of which the depressed con-
Meeting ridges are higher than Mont
Blanc, Monte Rosa. Mount Shasta and
Pixies Peak, and the. peaks are a series
of Mount Mckinle.s Enthusiastically over
topped only by few pinnacles Of the
Himalayas. Then endow the lake in adj
dition to the varied beauty of its islands,
bays and promontories With probably the
grandest viewpoint in the Andes. an out
look upon perhaps the most impressive
CONTINUOUS wall Of snow and ice and rock
to be seen in single glance Of the eye
In the accessible regions of the globe.
Then attach to this lake above the clouds
on the roof Of the New World the addi-
ttonal and unique interest Of super sti-
ton. of myth. OF romance and tradition
and YOU have Titicaca. For from its wa
tiers the god Firacocha, foam Of the sea-
emerged. After the flood and accompany
ing darkness the restored Sun first APP
peared behind the rock Inti-Karka on the
sacred island in the lake of the same
name, which has since been corrupted
into Titicaca. On this same island the
nrst Inca appeared, Nance Capac and
The whole region is sacred in local ira
clifton II is the Eden and the Holy Land
Of the New World. On the vast high
plateau which encircles 1t in the ancient
city OF Cuzco, Peru, and at Tiohuanaco,
Bolivia, are the best preserved and most
impressive remains of the structures and
civilization of the 1ncas and of the
greater architects and builders OF the
race who preceded the Incas. On the
sacred islands Of the Sun and Moon in
Lake Titicaca fragments remain of the
temples and palaces of the Incas which
once adorned them. On the border Of the
lake is .Copocabana. first an oracle and
pilgrim city of the Incas. then a Roman
Catholic shrine containing the efigy OF
the worlds most famous Indian virgin.
dl tue SOuCHcAeSSIH eAlTcA-
lty OF the lake. bloody battle was fought
in 1j47 between armies led by Spaniards
for control OF the Inca En-
pire, Gonzalo PiZarro and Centeno: and
nearly three centuries later a fierce strug-
gle at the lake port Of Guaqui occurred
in the war Of independence against Spain.
Not only the Indians of the past, but
those of today interest and attract with
their FESTIVALS at Copocabanas with their
and unique animals Of the
nigh plateau-llamss. alpacas and vicunas:
With their baIsas or reed-p boats and their
ponchos or -blanket-cloaks Of many. col
ors The region attracts not only the
the artist and other lovers
OF grand scenery, and the tourist, inn
aginative or unimaginative. but the hard
headed business man. the money maker.
who comprehends the wealth Of tin, OF
gold, silver and copper in the plateau
and mountains and the riches of nitrates
on the Pacific side and Of rubber on the
side Of the Andes.
The American Thibet, with New World
with ruins of the seat OF an
ancient civilization, and with reminders.
architectural and otherwise, Of the con-
quering Spaniard, is easily within three
unhurried weeks from broadway.