Lake Titicaca | lake, South America | Britannica.com Lake Titicaca Puno Lake Titicaca, Spanish Lago Titicaca, the world’s highest lake navigable to large vessels, lying at 12,500 feet (3,810 metres) above sea level in the Andes Mountains of South America , astride the border between Peru to the west and Bolivia to the east. Titicaca is the second largest lake of South America (after Maracaibo). It covers some 3,200 square miles (8,300 square km) and extends in a northwest-to-southeast direction for a distance of 120 miles (190 km). It is 50 miles (80 km) across at its widest point. A narrow strait, Tiquina, separates the lake into two bodies of water. The smaller, in the southeast, is called Lake Huiñaymarca in Bolivia and Lake Pequeño in Peru; the larger, in the northwest, is called Lake Chucuito in Bolivia and Lake Grande in Peru. An Aymara Indian poling a reed boat on Lake Titicaca, near the Bolivian shore.

The Cordillera Real … © Tony Morrison/South American Pictures Lake Titicaca. © Index Open The meaning of the name Titicaca is uncertain, but it has been variously translated as Rock of the Puma or Crag of Lead. Titicaca lies between Andean ranges in a vast basin (about 22,400 square miles [58,000 square km] in area) that comprises most of the Altiplano (High Plateau) of the central Andes. In the snow-covered Cordillera Real on the northeastern (Bolivian) shore of the lake, some of the highest peaks in the Andes rise to heights of more than 21,000 feet (6,400 metres). The lake averages between 460 and 600 feet (140 and 180 metres) in depth, but the bottom tilts sharply toward the Bolivian shore, reaching its greatest recorded depth of 920 feet (280 metres) off Isla Soto in the lake’s northeast corner.

More than 25 rivers empty their waters into Titicaca; the largest, the Ramis, draining about two-fifths of the entire Titicaca Basin, enters the northwestern corner of the lake. One small river , the Desaguadero , drains the lake at its southern end. This single outlet empties only 5 percent of the lake’s excess water; the rest is lost by evaporation under the fierce sun and strong winds of the dry Altiplano. Similar Topics Lake Todos los Santos Titicaca’s level fluctuates seasonally and over a cycle of years. During the rainy season (summer, from December to March) the level of the lake rises, normally to recede during the dry winter months. It was formerly believed that Titicaca was slowly drying up, but modern studies have seemed to refute this, indicating a more or less regular cycle of rise and fall. Titicaca’s waters are limpid and only slightly brackish, with salinity ranging from 5.2 to 5.5 parts per 1,000.

Surface temperatures average 56 °F (14 °C); from a thermocline at 66 feet (20 m) temperatures drop to 52 °F (11 °C) at the bottom. Analyses show measurable quantities of sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, calcium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate in the water. Lake Titicaca’s fish life consists principally of two species of killifish ( Orestias)—a small fish, usually striped or barred with black—and a catfish (Trichomycterus). In 1939, and subsequently, trout were introduced into Titicaca. A large frog ( Telmatobius), which may reach a length of nearly a foot, inhabits the shallower regions of the lake. Forty-one islands, some of them densely populated, rise from Titicaca’s waters. The largest, Titicaca Island (Spanish: Isla de Titicaca, also called Isla del Sol ), lies just off the tip of the Copacabana Peninsula in Bolivia. Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia.

Jeremy Woodhouse—Digital Vision/Getty Images Ruins on the lake’s bottom (where the remains of a temple were discovered in 2000), on its shore, and on the islands attest to the previous existence of one of the oldest civilizations known in the Americas. The chief site is at Tiwanaku , Bolivia, at the southern end of the lake. On Titicaca Island ruins of a temple mark the spot where, according to the tradition of the Incas (a Quechuan people of Peru who established an empire about 1100 ce), the legendary founders of the Inca dynasty , Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, were sent down to Earth by the Sun. Britannica Stories Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent The Aymara people living in the Titicaca Basin still practice their ancient methods of agriculture on stepped terraces that predate Inca times. They grow barley, quinoa (a type of pigweed that produces a small grain), and the potato , which originated on the Altiplano.

The highest cultivated plot in the world was found near Titicaca—a field of barley growing at a height of 15,420 feet (4,700 metres) above sea level. At this elevation the grain never ripens, but the stalks furnish forage for llamas and alpacas, the American relatives of the camel that serve the Indians as beasts of burden and provide meat and wool. The lake plain is covered with vast numbers of pre-Columbian raised platform fields and ditches, now abandoned, which were constructed to improve drainage and enhance the region’s agricultural potential. This ancient system of reclamation has been revived in some areas in both Peru and Bolivia.

Lake Titicaca - UNESCO World Heritage Centre Lake Titicaca Coordinates: S14 07 - 17 08 W68 02 - 71 06 Ref.: 5080 Word File Disclaimer The Secretariat of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Heritage Centre do not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information or documentation provided by the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention to the Secretariat of UNESCO or to the World Heritage Centre. The publication of any such advice, opinion, statement or other information documentation on the World Heritage Centre’s website and/or on working documents also does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of UNESCO or of the World Heritage Centre concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its boundaries. Property names are listed in the language in which they have been submitted by the State Party Description Lake Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake in South America and the highest of the world's large lakes. Titicaca is one of less than twenty ancient lakes on earth, and is thought to be there million years old.

Lake Titicaca sits 3 810 m above sea level and is situated between Peru to the west and Bolivia to the east. Peruvian part is located in Puno department, in Puno and Huancane provinces. It covers 3 200 square miles (8 300 square km) and extends in a northwest-to-southeast direction for a distance of 120 miles (190 km). It is 50 miles (80 km) across at its widest point. A narrow strait, Tiquina, separates the lake into two bodies of water. The smaller, in the southeast, is called Lake Huinaymarca in Bolivia and lake Pequeño in Peru. Lake Titicaca lies between Andean ranges in a vast basin (about 22 400 square miles - 58 000 square km in area) that comprises most of the Altiplano (High Plateau) of the northern Andes.

In the snow-covered Cordillera Real on the north-eastern (Bolivian) shore of the lake, some of the highest peaks in the Andes rise to heights of more than 21 000 feet (6 400m). Titicaca's level fluctuates seasonally and over a cycle of years. During the rainy season (summer, from December to March) the level of the lake rises, normally to recede during the dry winter months. The average level is 3.810msnm +- 2.5m. Titicaca's waters are limpid and only slightly brackish, with salinity ranging from 5.2 to 5.5 parts per 1 000. Surface temperatures average 56°F (14°C); from a thermo cline at 66 feet (20 m) temperatures drop to 52°F(11°C) at the bottom. Analyses show measurable quantities of sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, calcium sulphate, and magnesium sulphate in the water.

The lake averages between 460 and 600 feet (140 and 180 m) in depth, but the bottom tilts sharply toward the Bolivian shore, reaching its greatest recorded depth of 920 feet (280 m) off Isla Soto in the lake's northeast corner. More that 25 rivers empty their waters into Titicaca; the largest, the Ramis, draining about two-fifths of the entire Titicaca Basin, enters the north-western corner of the lake. One small river, the Desaguadero, drains the lake at its southern end. This single outlet empties only 5 percent of the lake's excess water; the rest is lost by evaporation under the fierce sun and strong winds of the dry Altiplano. There is evidence off the continuous presence of human population in the lake's area: the monumental remains and both tangible an intangible elements talk about different settings, the land-use and its management through specific and outstanding cultural manifestations. This evidence shows the constant relation between man and nature since ancient days and during a long period of time that goes from the birth and development of Andean pre-Hispanic societies until our days.

This long process that began approximately around 10 000 b.c. to 8 000 b.c. and lasted until the first third of the sixteen century with the arrival of the Incas was characterized by different and successive Andean societies and ethnic groups. The other period comprises from Colonial times in the sixteenth century up to our days. All this process has defined a cultural area where tradition has been preserved showing the permanence of ways of life, of customs and ancestral values. Archeological architectonic building of great singularity in some sites as Pukara, Sillustani, Cutimbo (Peruvian side) and Tiwanaku and the Isla del Sol (Bolivian side) are clear evidence of the existence of societies such as Pukara, Tiwanaku, Colla Lupaka and Inca. The agricultural techniques of pre-Hispanic origin such as the so called waru-waruor or ridges of furrows, the amazing terraces that are to be found in different islands of the lake and the totora reed "floating islands" in the middle of the lake are expressions of remarkable value and evidence of land-use and environmental management.

Languages, customs, beliefs and artistic works that remain until our days are evidence of ways of life and of cultural values of exceptional value that characterized the Uru inhabitants of the lake and the Taquilenos from Taquile Island, who are organized in a very strong community and whose textile art is one of the fundamental expressions that has been influenced by the textile art of the ancient Paracas, Nazca, Wari and above all, the Collas, a group of people from the pre-Hispanic Peruvian Andean highland. Languages, traditions, beliefs and customs are intermingled in different forms of social organization, cycles of social life, feasts and rituals, music and dances and in the preservation of sacred places, being the lake the most sacred one, since from its waters emerged the founders of the Inca civilization and the Empire. Statements of authenticity and/or integrity There are important researches and studies as sources of information for accessing the authenticity of the values attributed to Lake Titicaca. Also under Peruvian legislation, part of Lake Titicaca is included in the National System of Protected Areas (SINANPE) as a national reserve (IUCN VI category).

In addition, in 1997, all Lake Titicaca was a wetland of international importance. This category gives to Lake Titicaca a special protection and conservation responsibilities under Ramsar Convention. Comparison with other similar properties There are few examples of wetlands of international importance declared as World Heritage sites. There are only four lakes that are World Heritage sites: Willandra lakes Region (Australia) Inscribed 1981, boundaries revised 1995 Criteria C (iii) N (i) The fossil remains of a series of lakes and sand formations that date from the Pleistocene can be found in this region, together with archaeological evidence of human occupation dating from 45-60 000 years ago. It is a unique landmark in the study of human evolution on the Australian continent. Several well-preserved fossils of giant marsupials have also been found here.

Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia) Inscribed 1979, 2000 Criteria N (ii)(iii) The waters which have flowed across the limestone and chalk have, over thousands of years, deposited travertine barriers, creating natural dams which in turn have created a series of beautiful lakes, caves and waterfalls. These geological processes continue today. The forests of the park are a refuge for bears, wolves, and many rare bird species. Lake Baikal (Russian Federation) Inscribed 1996 Criteria N (i)(ii)(iii)(iv) Situated in south-east Siberia in the Russian Federation, the 3.15 million ha. Lake Baikal in the oldest (25 million years) and deepest (1 637 m) of the world's lakes. It contains 20% of the world's surface unfrozen freshwater reserve. Known as the "Galapagos of Russia", its age and isolation have produced one of the world's richest and most unusual freshwater faunas which is of exceptional value to evolutionary science. With its outstanding variety of endemic animals and plants Lake Baikal is one of the most biologically diverse lakes on earth.

Venice and its Lagoon (Italy) Inscribed 1987 Criteria (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi) Founded in the 5th century and spread over 118 small island, Venice became a major maritime power on the 10th century, The whole city is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building contains works by someone on the world's greatest artists such as Giorgione, Titan, Tintoretto, Veronese and others. But there are not other examples as Lake Titicaca, its cultural and natural properties are different than the other four World Heritage sites. None of them is an associative cultural landscape considered a holly place by an ancient culture that also protects a wetland of great diversity.

Lake Titicaca : Image of the Day News & Notes acquired July 23, 2015 download large image (5 MB, JPEG, 4256x2832) As the International Space Station flew over the Atacama Desert of coastal Peru, an astronaut looked to the north and, by using a short lens (80 mm), captured the entire 190-kilometer (120-mile) length of Lake Titicaca. The lake lies on the high Andes plateau, along the border between Peru and Bolivia. It is the highest major body of navigable water in the world (3,800 meters or 12,500 feet in elevation) and the largest lake in South America. Lake Titicaca is one of the most popular tourist attractions in South America. Many rivers drain into the lake, including several draining glaciers (top right). A semicircular river delta bulges into the lake (center), while some other rivers enter through protected bays and make dark green wetlands. A green algal bloom appears at the south end of the lake (right).

(North is to the top left of the image.) Strong westerly winds constantly blow across the Andes plateau, ruffling the lake surface in a subtle pattern of waves and swells. These winds contribute significantly to the water budget of the lake. As with most large lakes, there is a balance between inflows and outflows so that the water level remains roughly constant. Hydrologists now know that the Desaguadero River (right) drains only 10 percent of the inflows, with most of the water lost (about 90 percent) because of evaporation caused by the persistent winds. Geologists have found evidence that the lake stretched hundreds of kilometers farther to the south in the past. Lake Titicaca is believed to have been as much as 600 kilometers (400 miles) long during glacial periods, likely the result of higher rainfall and lower temperatures. Astronaut photograph ISS040-E-75453 was acquired on July 23, 2014, with a Nikon D3S digital camera using an 80 millimeter lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center.

The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 40 crew. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Caption by M. Justin Wilkinson, Texas State University, Jacobs Contract at NASA-JSC. Instrument(s): Lake Titicaca, Fuente Magna - Crystalinks Lake Titicaca Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It sits 3,811 m (12,500 ft) above sea level, making it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. By volume of water, it is also the largest lake in South America (Lake Maracaibo has a larger surface area, but it is often disregarded as it is directly connected to the sea).

Fuente Magna Bowl How did an ancient artifact, with Sumerian cuneiform writing, wind up in the Andes? Ancient Alien theorists would argue that it came from aliens who visited here long ago and created our biogenetic experiment. It all goes back to the hidden secrets of Peru and the Inca. Yes there were aliens and locals still report seeing UFOs rise from the water beneath Lake Titicaca. Fuente Magna, the Rosetta Stone of the Americas Epoch Times - October 2, 2014 The Fuenta Magna is a large stone vessel, resembling a libation bowl, that was found in 1958 near Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. It features beautifully engraved anthropomorphic characters, zoological motifs characteristic of the local culture, and, more surprisingly, two types of scripts - a proto-Sumerian ancient alphabet and a local language of the ancient Pukara, forerunner of the Tiahuanaco civilization.

Often referred to as 'the Rosetta Stone of the Americas,' the stone vessel is one of the most controversial artifacts in South America as it raises questions about whether there may have been a connection between the Sumerians and the ancient inhabitants of the Andes, located thousands of miles away. The Ancient Ruins On and Beneath the Sacred Lake Titicaca Ancient Origins - September 29, 2015 Lake Titicaca is located in the Andes between Bolivia and Peru. It is the largest freshwater lake in South America, and is also regarded as the highest navigable lake in the world. Lake Titicaca is said to be the cradle of Peru's ancient civilizations, and has been populated by numerous Andean cultures, including the Purakas, the Tiwanakus, and the Incas. The presence of these civilizations, especially the Incas, can be seen on Lake Titicaca by the ruins they left behind, including a mysterious underwater temple thought to be between 1,000 and 1,500 years old.

Lake Titicaca Underwater Ruins Ancient temple found under Lake Titicaca BBC - August 23, 2000 Divers went as deep as 30m in their exploration The ruins of an ancient temple have been found by international archaeologists under Lake Titicaca, the world's highest lake. A terrace for crops, a long road and an 800-metre (2,600 feet) long wall was also found under the waters of the lake, sited in the Andes mountains between Bolivia and Peru. Dating back 1,000 to 1,500 years ago, the ruins are pre-Incan. They have been attributed to the indigenous Tiwanaku or Tiahuanaco people, said Lorenzo Epis, the Italian scientist leading the Atahuallpa 2000 scientific expedition. The holy temple measures 200m by 50m (660ft by 160ft) almost twice the size of an average football pitch. More than 200 dives were made into the lake, to depths of as much as 30m (100ft), to record the ruins on film.

Pre-Inca ruins found in lake Titicaca The Guardian - August 23, 2000 The ruins of what is thought to be a huge ancient temple have been discovered by archaeologists diving beneath Lake Titicaca in the Andes between Bolivia and Peru. An international team of scientists announced the finding this week after making more than 200 dives in Titicaca, which, at 3,800m above sea level, is the world's highest navigable lake. View from Bolivia Taquile Island on Lake Titicaca Puno Peru Lake Titicaca is located at the northern end of the endorheic Altiplano basin high in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia. The western part of the lake lies within the Puno Region of Peru, and the eastern side is located in the Bolivian La Paz Department. The lake is composed of two nearly separate sub-basins that are connected by the Strait of Tiquina which is 800 m (2,620 ft) across at the narrowest point.

The larger sub-basin, Lago Grande (also called Lago Chucuito) has a mean depth of 135 m (443 ft) and a maximum depth of 284 m (932 ft). The smaller sub-basin, Winaymarka (also called Lago Pequeno, "little lake") has a mean depth of 9 m (30 ft) and a maximum depth of 40 m (131 ft). The overall average depth of the lake is 107 m (351 ft). Lake Titicaca is fed by rainfall and meltwater from glaciers on the sierras that abut the Altiplano. Five major river systems feed into Lake Titicaca. In order of their relative flow volumes these are Ramis, Coata, Ilave, Huancane, and Suchez. More than 20 other smaller streams empty into Titicaca, and the lake has 41 islands, some of which are densely populated.

Having only a single season of free circulation, the lake is monomictic, and water passes through Lago Huinaimarca and flows out the single outlet at the Rio Desaguadero, which then flows south through Bolivia to Lake Poopo. This only accounts for about 10% of the lake's water balance. Evapotranspiration, caused by strong winds and intense sunlight at altitude, balances the remaining 90% of the water input. It is nearly a closed lake. Since 2000 Lake Titicaca has experienced constantly receding water levels. Between April and November 2009 alone the water level has sunk by 81 cm and has now reached the lowest level since 1949. This drop is caused by shortened raining seasons and the melting of glaciers feeding the tributaries of the lake. Lake Titicaca holds large populations of water birds and was designated as a Ramsar Site on August 26, 1998.

Several threatened species such as the huge Titicaca Water Frog and the flightless Titicaca Grebe are largely or entirely restricted to the lake, and the Titicaca Orestias has gone extinct due to competition and predation by various introduced species of trouts and silversides. The origin of the name Titicaca is unknown. It has been translated as "Rock Puma", allegedly for its resembling the shape of a puma hunting a rabbit, combining words from the local languages Quechua and Aymara, and as well as translated as "Crag of Lead." Locally, the lake goes by several names. Because the southeast quarter of the lake is separate from the main body (connected only by the Strait of Tiquina), the Bolivians call it Lago Huinaymarca and the larger part Lago Chucuito. In Peru, these smaller and larger parts are referred to as Lago Peque�o and Lago Grande, respectively. The meaning of the name Titicaca is uncertain, but it has been variously translated as Rock of the Puma or Crag of Lead.

Titicaca lies between Andean ranges in a vast basin (about 22,400 square miles [58,000 square km] in area) that comprises most of the Altiplano (High Plateau) of the northern Andes. In the snow-covered Cordillera Real on the northeastern (Bolivian) shore of the lake, some of the highest peaks in the Andes rise to heights of more than 21,000 feet (6,400 m). Titicaca's level fluctuates seasonally and over a cycle of years. During the rainy season (summer, from December to March) the level of the lake rises, normally to recede during the dry winter months. It was formerly believed that Titicaca was slowly drying up, but modern studies have seemed to refute this, indicating a more or less regular cycle of rise and fall. Titicaca's waters are limpid and only slightly brackish, with salinity ranging from 5.2 to 5.5 parts per 1,000.

Surface temperatures average 56� F (14� C); from a thermocline at 66 feet (20 m) temperatures drop to 52� F (11� C) at the bottom. Analyses show measurable quantities of sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, calcium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate in the water. Titicaca (Stone Puma) has lived a long life of millions of years. It contains the sum of all the ages that have molded and defined the works that humans have undertaken in the southern Americas. Over this span of time, that reaches back some two million years, its body of water has been much larger, and encompassed areas today covered in salt flats and wasteland. Lake Titicaca's fish life consists principally of two species of killifish (Orestias)--a small fish, usually striped or barred with black--and a catfish (Trichomycterus). In 1939, and subsequently, trout were introduced into Titicaca. A large frog (Telmatobius), which may reach a length of nearly a foot, inhabits the shallower regions of the lake.

Ruins on the shore and on the islands attest to the previous existence of one of the oldest civilizations known in the Americas, antedating the Christian era. The chief site is at Tiahuanaco, Bolivia, at the southern end of the lake. On Titicaca Island ruins of a temple mark the spot where, according to the tradition of the Incas (a Quechuan people of Peru who established an empire about 1100), the legendary founders of the Inca dynasty, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, were sent down to Earth by the Sun. In Inca mythology, Manco Capac and Mama 0cllo, children of the Sun, emerged from the depths of Lake Titicaca to found their empire. Like famous naturalist Jacques Cousteau, today's visitors to Titicaca will surely feel the same emotion that captivated the symbolic universe of the ancient Peruvians. With lofty snow-capped peaks along its far shores, the vast blue lake at 3,800m is one of the Andes' most enchanting scenes.

This is an indigenous community of some 350 families which continues to live within the traditions of the 14th century, according to the principles of Inca life. Here, without noting the passing of time, the three golden rules of the Empire of the Sun have been kept: Ama suwa, Ama quella, Ama llulla (do not steal, don't be idle, and do not lie). The contact with other civilizations has not been able to destroy the profound identity of the Inca way. The Aymara people living in the Titicaca Basin still practice their ancient methods of agriculture on stepped terraces that predate Inca times. They grow barley, quinoa (a type of pigweed that produces a small grain), and the potato, which originated on the Altiplano. The highest cultivated plot in the world was found near Titicaca--a field of barley growing at a height of 15,420 feet (4,700 m) above sea level. At this height the grain never ripens, but the stalks furnish forage for llamas and alpacas, the American relatives of the camel that serve the Indians as beasts of burden and as a source of meat.

The remnants of an ancient people, the Uru, still live on floating mats of dried totora (a reedlike papyrus that grows in dense brakes in the marshy shallows). From the totora, the Uru and other lake dwellers make their famed balsas--boats fashioned of bundles of dried reeds lashed together that resemble the crescent-shaped papyrus craft pictured on ancient Egyptian monuments. In 1862 the first steamer to ply the lake was prefabricated in England and carried in pieces on muleback up to the lake. Today vessels make regular crossings from Puno, on the Peruvian shore, to the small Bolivian port of Guaqui. A narrow-gauge railway connects Guaqui with La Paz, capital of Bolivia. The world's second-highest railway runs from Puno down to Arequipa and the Pacific, completing for land-bound Bolivia, an important link with the sea. Lake Titicaca and the House of the Golden Sun Disc By Vera Shapiro Peru is a land steeped in ancient prophecies and wisdom that is vital for our planet during these transitional times.

Life in the Incan empire was measured by a thousand year cosmic cycle called an Inti, which means 'Sun'. This thousand year cycle was then divided into halves, each of which was referred to as a Pachakuti. The Cosmo vision of the Andean world is the conception of duality that is in permanent opposition, but complementary, like the principle of ying/yang that expresses this opposition between day/night, light/dark, man/woman, earth/sky, up/down. This same principle of duality applies to each Pachakuti. However, Pachakuti also is used to refer to the transitional time that divided each Pachakuti and this is characterized as a time of great changes. During the five hundred years of the eighth Pachakuti, Pachacuteq, the greatest spiritual leader of the Incas and the builder of Machu Picchu ruled. This was a time of light when the Inca Empire flourished and there was expansion and good fortune. The ninth Pachakuti, on the opposite side of the duality, brought with it the five hundred years of darkness when the Spanish invaders conquered the Inca and the Andes people lost their power.

We are now entering the tenth Pachakuti, which the Andes people refer to as the returning of Pachacuteq, the returning of the Light. This is the time when the etheric crystal cities of the fourth dimension such as the lost golden city of Paititi and the eternal etheric city under lake Titicaca will again be available to us. There is a legend that says at the time Lemuria was sinking, one of the seven Great Masters of Lemuria, Lord Aramu Muru, was given the mission to bring the sacred Golden Solar Disc from the Temple of Illumination to Lake Titicaca for safe keeping. During the time of the Incas, the Solar Disc was transferred to Cusco, and placed in the Qorikancha, the main Temple of the Sun, where it stayed until the coming of the Spanish. At that time, it was returned to Lake Titicaca and placed in the Eternal Etheric City inside the Lake. In the legend of their origin, this is the place from where the first Incas, M'anko Qapak and Mama Oqllo, entered the Earth.

M'anko Qapak and Mama Oqllo The Solar Disc was used in the capacity of a cosmic computer that received light information directly from the Universal Mind Source, Wiracocha, at the center of the galaxy. By entering the Temple of Illumination and opening themselves, the Lemurians and later the Incas could access the sacred wisdom. It is during this time, the Age of Pachakuti, that the sacred Solar Disc is to be re-activated accessing the cosmic wisdom. Many of the world's spiritual leaders, as well as indigenous teachers, acknowledge that the energy of the planet shifted in 1987 from the masculine energies of Tibet to the feminine energies of Peru, and more particular, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu, and The Sacred Valley of the Incas. This area is the acknowledged portal through which the new feminine energies are entering Mother Earth 'Pacha Mama". The Uros of today, still live as the original inhabitants did as they continue to use the totora reeds to build their huts and rafts. The Uros are singular people and even though they keep to themselves very quietly, they do allow people to visit with them.

The Urubamba Valley, also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, is one of the most fertile valleys on this planet. Everything that is planted here grows with such abnormal vigor - especially corn and potatoes. The corn here grows approximately three times the size of the corn grown in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Lake Titicaca Lake Titicaca Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters Thanks, You're in! There was an error. Please try again. Please select a newsletter. Please enter a valid email address. Did you mean ? Reed Boat on Lake Titicaca. ClipARt.com Updated January 26, 2016. Lake Titicaca , the cradle of Incan civilization, and the origin of the Inca Empire is the largest lake on the South American continent. It is reputed to be the highest navigable lake in the world (about 3810 m/12,500 ft above sea level), extending from southeastern Peru to western Bolivia . The lake is 196 km (122 mi) long with an average width of 56 km (35 mi).

The lake has waves, testament to its size and not surprising the waters are cold. At that altitude and fed from snow-clad Andes the lake does not invite swimming. It is the remnant of an ancient inland sea and the blue waters make a beautiful contrast to the parched altiplano. You get to Lake Titicaca on the Peruvian side from Puno, the capital of Peru's altiplano which is the folkloric center of Peru and gateway to Lake Titicaca. continue reading below our video Long-Haul Flight Survival Tips Puno itself is not attractive but the schedule of dances including the Devil Dance perfomed during the feast of the Virgen De Candelaria and other festivals attract visitors year round. Check flights from your area to Lima or La Paz to make connections to the lake. You can also browse for hotels and car rentals. According to Incan mythology, Manco Capac and Mama 0cllo, also known as Mama Huaca, emerged from the depths of Lake Titicaca on the sacred rock gate on Isla Del Sol to found the Inca Empire.

The sister island Isla de la Luna is not as well visited but is also a holy place as it housed the convent of the virgins of the sun. The entire lake was a holy place. Also connected with the legend of Lake Titicaca is the Lemurian Solar Disc which governed the thousand year cycle of Incan time. According to legend, when the Spanish forces reached Cuzco, the Incas took the two-ton gold chain of Inca Huascar from the temple at Koricancha and threw it into the lake. It has never been found although some years ago Jacques Cousteau mounted an expedition to explore the lake with a mini-submarine. Prev Lake Titicaca, Peru | Peru Travel Lake Titicaca Peru Travel Guide Lake Titicaca Lake Titicaca Lake Titicaca, an ancient lake that is known to be one of the most fascinating lakes in the world, is located between Bolivia and Peru at a height of 12,507 feet above sea level, which makes it the highest navigable lake on the planet. It covers approximately 3,200 sq. miles. and is known to be the largest lake in South America.

There are all sorts of adventures and attractions to discover along the shores and on the islands of Lake Titicaca. From the fascinating town of Challapampa to the presence of more than 180 ruins that date back to the Incan civilization, you’re always bound to be spoilt for choice when it comes to things to see and do in Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca History According to Andean folklore, Titicaca refers to the birthplace of the sun. Inca mythologies state that the lake is the very place from which the world was created. The Incas had believed that god Viracocha emerged from the lake and created the sun, the stars and the very first people. The lake is the foundation for numerous pre-Hispanic cultures of the Andean region as it gave birth to various kingdoms in the 9th century and also became integral to the great Inca Empire in the 15th century. What made Lake Titica even more important was the discovery of an ancient temple that was submerged within the depths of this sacred lake. The temple is known to be twice the size of a football field and is 1,000 – 1,500 years old.

Things to see at Lake Titicaca In addition to the breathtaking beauty of the lake itself, there are as many as 41 islands and 180 ruins that are worth exploring while in the area. Here are some of the best things to see at Lake Titicaca. Isla del Sol The Isla del Sol, or Island of the Sun, is the largest island on the lake and is located on the Bolivian side of the lake. This sacred island was believed to be home to the Supreme Incan god Inti. Challapampa A fascinating town located on the northern end of Isla del Sol, is famous for hosting the Chinkana, an enormous stone complex that is full of mazes and was believed to be a training site for Incan priests. The complex has a natural spring that runs under the island and re-appears close to the sacred fountain of Yumani. Other attractions in Challapampa include the sacred rock shapes that resemble a puma and two humongous footprints that are believed to belong to the sun, when it came to Earth to give birth to the Incan Adam and Eve.

Yumani Yumani is located on the south end of Isla del Sol and is known to be the largest town on the islands. It is most famous for the sacred fountain that is made of stone and is fed by three unique springs. This fountain is believed to have miraculous healing properties and has often been called the lost Fountain of Youth. Island of the Moon The Island of the Moon, or Isla de la Luna, is home to Mama Quila, an Incan Goddess. The structures on this island predate the Incan culture, but numerous examples of Incan architecture can also be found on the island. The island used to host a group of chosen women who lived like nuns during the Incan times. These women performed ceremonies that were dedicated to the sun and wove garments from alpaca wool.> Uros Islands The Uros Islands are a set of man-made islands that lie on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. These islands are inhabited by a group of people who live a simple and traditional lifestyle and are believed to be descendants of the Uros tribe.

1-800-667-6134 Lake Titicaca - Highest Navigable Lake in the World Venezuela Lake Titicaca On the borders of Peru and Bolivia lies Lake Titicaca, the highest commercially navigable lake in the world (3,820m./12,532 ft.). With a surface area of approximately 8,300 square kilometers (3,204 miles2) Titicaca is South America's largest freshwater lake. It is magical, sacred and serene and the most beautiful lake I have ever seen. The water of Titicaca has an amazing dark cobalt blue color. Wonderful islands such as the Floating Islands and the Island of the Sun are scattered throughout the tranquil lake and can be visited from the nearby towns of Puno and Copacabana. Tours in Bolivia Lake Titicaca has long been considered a sacred place among indigenous Andean peoples. In touch with the spirit of Mama Qota, or Sacred Mother, they believe that powerful spirits live in the lake's depths. According to Andean legend, Lake Titicaca was the birthplace of civilization.

Viracocha, the creator deity, lightened a dark world by having the sun, moon, and stars rise from the lake to occupy their places in the sky. Worthy of such mystical associations, Lake Titicaca is a dazzling sight. Its deep azure waters seemingly extend forever across the altiplano, under the monstrously wide sky at an elevation of more than (3,820m./12,532 ft.). The lake covers more than 8,500 sq. km (3,315 sq. miles); it is 176km (109 miles) long and 50km (31 miles) wide. The sun is extraordinarily intense at this altitude, scorching off 600 cubic meters of water per second. Daybreak and sunset are particularly stunning to witness. ---------- ---------- Uros Floating Islands (Islas Flotantes) The floating islands are a strange sight. They are made by hand from tortora reeds and there are some 45 floating islands on lake Titicaca in the Bay of Puno, Peru.

Isolated for many years the Uros Indians first came into contact with the outside world in the mid-1960s. Today tourists have become a welcome source of income and a few islands have been set up to receive tourists. The largest island, Huacavacani, has not only homes, but also a floating Seventh-Day Adventist church, a candidate for one of the most bizarre juxtapositions you are likely to find in Peru. Others have schools, a post office, and souvenir shops. There is no electricity on the islands. Power is generated through sun panels. Amantani Island (Isla Amantani) Amantaní, a circular island located about 4 1/2 hours from Puno, is home to a very different, although equally fascinating, Titicaca community. Also handsomely terraced and home to farmers, fishers, and weavers, in many ways Amantaní is even more rustic and unspoiled than Taquile. It is a beautiful but barren and rocky place, with a handful of villages composed of about 800 families and ruins clinging to the island's two peaks, Pachatata (Father Earth) and Pachamama (Mother Earth).

The island presents some excellent opportunities for hikes up to these spots, with terrific views of lake Titicaca and the sparsely populated island landscape. The agricultural character of the island is perhaps even more apparent than on Taquile. Long, ancient-looking stone walls mark the fields and terraces of different communities, and cows, sheep, and alpacas graze the hillsides. ---------- ---------- The Island of the Sun (Isla del Sol) The Island of the Sun takes it place in history where the Inca empire, and consequently the sun, was born. It is not too far away from the rustic town Copacabana (Bolivia). It is sparsely populated and you can walk around the island in about 8 hours. On the hike you get rewarded with some spectacular views from lake Titicaca and some fascinating Inca ruins. Highly recommended is spending the night on the island. I got rewarded with the most spectacular starry night I'd ever seen. Yumani, on the south end, is the largest town on the island and the place to spend the night. I got rewarded with the most starry night I have ever seen, just amazing.

If you arrive by boat to Yumani, your first encounter awaits you with the Inca Steps. There are 206 steps to be climbed. These steps are original Inca constructions, and they lead up to a sacred stone fountain with three separate springs, which are said to be a fountain of youth. Challapampa -- A visit to Challapampa will be the highlight of your visit to the Sun Island. Here, you will find the ruins of Chinkana (labyrinth). It is a huge stone complex full of mazes, believed to be a seminary for Inca priests. A natural spring here runs under the island and appears again in a sacred stone fountain in Yumani. On the path back to the town of Challapampa, about 100 meters (270 feet) from Chinkana, you will pass by the sacred rock, carved in the shape of a puma. As you continue along this path toward Challapampa, look down: You will soon see two very large footprints, said to have been created when the sun dropped down to earth to give birth to Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo.

Common misspellings: Lake Titicaca - Lonely Planet Lake Titicaca is the birthplace of the sun Places Adventures Welcome to Lake Titicaca In Andean belief, Titicaca is the birthplace of the sun. In addition, it’s the largest lake in South America and the highest navigable body of water in the world. Banner blue skies contrast with bitterly cold nights. Enthralling and in many ways singular, the shimmering deep blue Lake Titicaca is the longtime home of highland cultures steeped in the old ways... Read More Top experiences in Lake Titicaca Sights in Lake Titicaca Lake Titicaca travel guide - Wikitravel Lake Titicaca at Sunrise from Puno Reed Islands of Lake Titicaca Floating village on Lake Titicaca Covering some 8300 square kilometers, Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America, not counting Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela , which is connected to the sea by a strait. The area of the lake is divided between Peru and Bolivia. Approximately 60% of the lake is in Peru and 40% of the lake is in Bolivia.

Most of the Tiquina peninsula, which just out from the Peruvian shore, also belongs to Bolivia. Titicaca is the ancestral land of the Quechuas, Aymaras, Uros, Pacajes, and Puquinas. Lake Titicaca was the foundation of the most influential pre-Hispanic cultures of the Andean Region. Many independent kingdoms grew out of this fertile area beginning in the 9th century, though interestingly most of these kingdoms were ultimately rivals, until the middle of the 15th century, when the Incas conquered the region, which they considered important because of its wool and meat production. Today, Puno continues its vast agricultural traditions and also its ancestral rituals such as offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and these ancient customs are ever-present in the lives of the inhabitants of the region. The Titicaca Reserve was created in 1978, with the purpose of preserving the native flora and fauna and the beauty of the area’s countryside.

There are 60 species of birds, 14 species of fish and 18 species of amphibians in the Reserve; one of the most famous of which is the giant frog of Titicaca, which can weigh up to 3 kg. Lake Titicaca Facts Lake Titicaca Facts By Tony Dunnell Updated January 23, 2016. Lake Titicaca is a stunning and inspiring place, a windswept, high altitude body of water surrounded by the impressive landscapes of the Peruvian Altiplano (Andean Plateau). Many visitors feel a spiritual connection here, or a palpable sense of the wonder of nature, a feeling that transcends their physical surroundings. Here, however, we’ll be keeping one foot firmly on the ground (or maybe the shore) as we look at some of the most interesting facts about Lake Titicaca: the largest freshwater lake in South America and the highest navigable lake in the world. Lake Titicaca in Numbers Surface area -- 3,200 square miles (8,300 square km). For comparison, Lake Ontario has a surface area of 7,340 square miles.

Length -- As you can see from this map of Lake Titicaca , the lake stretches from the northwest to the southeast for a distance of about of 120 miles (190 km). Width -- At its widest point, the lake measures about 50 miles (80 km). Average depth -- 107 meters Coordinates -- 15°45′S 69°25′W (roughly centered in the middle of the lake). See more maps showing the precise global and continental location of Lake Titicaca . Lake Titicaca Past and Present Age -- According to the UNESCO World Heritage Center, Lake Titicaca is one of less than twenty ancient lakes on Earth, and is believed to be approximately three million years old. First human inhabitants -- The shores and islands of Lake Titicaca have been inhabited since ancient times, at least as far back as the origins of the first Andean societies. Notable societies to have inhabited the region include the Pukara, Tiwanaku, Colla Lupaka and Inca civilizations. Current human inhabitants -- Lake Titicaca is split between Peru (west) and Bolivia (east).

Major settlements on the shores of the lake include Puno in Peru and Copacabana in Bolivia. Transport -- Numerous small passenger and fishing boats. The largest boat is the Manco Capac car float, owned by PeruRail. Major islands -- Amantani, Taquile (Peru), Isla del Sol, Isla de la Luna, Suriki (Bolivia). Also the artificial floating islands of the Uros people, which are made of totora reeds. Economy -- Fishing and tourism are both hugely important to the local economy. Wildlife -- Lake Titicaca is home to 26 species of fish, as well as various aquatic bird species. Frogs, toads, and more than 20 species of freshwater snail also live in or around the lake. Weather -- Lake Titicaca and the surrounding highland plateau experience cool to cold temperatures for most of the year. Wind coming off the lake can make things feel a lot colder. Protected status -- Lake Titicaca is protected by Peruvian law (national reserve status). It was also designated as a Ramsar Site in 1998.

Lake Titicaca is currently one of seven Peruvian sites waiting on UNESCO’s Tentative List ; if approved, it will become one of the official UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Peru . Sources:

Question: Titicaca is the largest lake in?
Answer: South America