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. Inventory of Conflict and Environment (ICE), Template 1. Abstract The people inhabiting the highly arid zones of South America, such as the Altiplano, have always had to struggle for fresh water. Climate change has the potential toexacerbate this issue. Both Bolivia and Peru are located in zones of water stress and share the resources. Their impoverished populations depend largely on the rivers and lakes fed by glacial melt. The two countries divide Lake Titicaca and its resources evenly through negotiations, benefitting from it both agriculturally and economically.

However, while glacial melt will replenish the rising loss of water due to evaporation, the disappearance of Lake Titicaca's surrounding glaciers will leave Bolivia and Peru in a dangerous situation. Fig. 1 Source: WWAP United Nations World Water Development Report 2003 Fig. 2 Source: M. Bush, Global Change Biology Journal 2010 Lake Titicaca is part of a 4 lake basin network known as the TDPS system. It is comprised of the lakes Titicaca, Desaguadero, Poopo and Coipasa salt lake. It is known as the highest navigable lake in the world and is the second largest lake in South America. It is between 3810 meters high above sea level. Its basin has an area of 56300 kilometers squared. (WWAP 466) Lake Titicaca is home to many endangered flora and fauna, and is home to the world’s largest and also critically enangered frog, the telmatobius culeus , or the Titicaca water frog. The lake serves as a source of fresh water for both citizens of Bolivia and Peru.

The lake is surrounded by the indigenous populations of the Aymara and the Urus. Lake Titicaca’s freshwater ecosystem is incredibly vulnerable to pollution. The Aymara and Urus practice traditional lifestyles and depend on the lake for survival (WWAP 147). The lake is situated in the harsh region of the Altiplano. Impoverished communities surround the borders of the lake. Farming and survival in this region is largely dependent on the Lake Titicaca and its resources. The lake's water levels are typically replenished each year from glacial melt. The lake loses much of its water to evaporation due to being at such a high altitude. In fact, the lake loses 90% of its output each year and as a result, the lake depends on yearly and monthly fluctuations of evaporation. (Delclaux et al. 1664) Climate change is exacerbating the amount of evaporation, and this combined with glacial melt could prove disastrous for the joint water governance that Peru and Bolivia have so carefully established. Once the surrounding glaciers have disappeared, Lake Titicaca will have lost a vital part of its yearly recovery.

Without the replenishment, the surrounding impoverished communities will overdraft the lake and the water table in an effort to maintain their lifestyles. This will inevitably lead to conflict between the two nations. Scientific Evidence Water level changes of the Lake Titicaca basin have been well documented as a result of both compiled data and paleoclimatic reconstructions. Francois Delclaux states in his text Evaporation estimation on Lake Titicaca: a synthesis review and modeling that sedimentary core analysis has shown that water levels have fallen by about 100m with respect to the present level between 9000 and 6500 years BP. Evaporation accounts for 90 percent of the lake’s water loss, with 10 percent lost to the Rio Desaguadero (Delclaux 1664). Lake evaporation is usually relatively constant with two maxima and two minima per year. Evaporation estimates vary, ranging from 1350 millimeters per year to 1900 millimeters per year but is averaged at 1500 millimeters per year. This number is extremely high for a lake found in a region with low temperatures.

The evaporation levels are a result of air dryness which induces a high vapor pressure deficit. The evaporation is increased by the unusually warm surface temperature of the lake itself. Scientist Jean Pierre Carmouze of the Bolivian branch of the IRD, a French research organization, has proven that were the water temperature the same as the air, evaporation would decrease (Delclaux 1675). However, climate change has begun to affect the TDPS system. High levels of solar radiation have already proven to evaporate larger amounts of water in the TDPS system. Climate change is increasing the amount of solar radiation and heat within the region. This has led to glacial melt and drought, both of which provide consequences for the Lake Titicaca and the people who depend on it. The Lake Titicaca Authority have been monitoring this change and have found that 95 percent of the lake is evaporating per year and this is rising and combined with the melting of the surrounding glaciers and increasing drought, Lake Titicaca is in danger of losing its mechanisms for replenishment.

Felix Trujillo chief of Bolivia's National Meteorological and Hydrological Service, is quoted saying that one of the reasons is that the region’s rainy season has been reduced from six to three months (Valdez). Water rationing and other mechanisms have been put in place to conserve water in many nearby Bolivian cities. Climatologist Mark Bush of FIT and a team of researchers studied 370,000 years of Lake Titicaca’s previous climate and showed through their research the possible consequences of climate change. Figure 2 explains part of their findings and shows that Lake Titicaca shrank by as much as 85 percent during two of its interglacial periods and in each case, warming climate led to a migration of vegetation, similar to what is occurring today (Bush 3227-3228). Warmer temperatures cause vegetation to move further upslope. As evaporation increases and the lake’s water levels begin to fall, the lake becomes more saline. Mark Bush’s research can be accessed here .

Political Governance Lake Titicaca is divided evenly between Bolivia and Peru and is mutually governed by both nations under the Autoridad Binacional Autonoma del Systema Hidrico (TDPS) or the Binational Autonomous Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT). Both countries have an 'exclusive and indivisible joint ownership' over its waters (WWAP). They follow a joint ownership model as a means to ensure management. The Ministry of Sustainability and Development in Bolivia and the Peruvian Development Institute also play a large role in governing the lake. There are two projects situated in each country which fall under and depend on the ALT that coordinate the two national governments and centralize information. The two nations share the lake and its resources evenly as is shown in the table below. Water supply and sanitation coverage in the TDPS system 20% source: UNESCO The Binational Autonomous Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT) was created in May 1996 and operates between both countries. Its function is to decide, implement and enforce regulations on management of the lake, control and protect the TDPS’s water system and also conduct research, projects and programs. Each country has its own department.

Bolivia operates under the Unidad Operativa Boliviana, or the Bolivian Operative Unit and Peru operates under the Proyecto Especial del Lago Titicaca or the Lake Titicaca Special Project. Each unit is responsible for coordinating their actions with their national governments. The ALT follows a master plan which is run by the Hydrological Resources Unit and the Master Plan Management Unit. These entities monitor water resources and track the development of the master plan. (WWAP 475) Bolivia lost the Chacaltaya Glacier in as little as 20 years (fig.4). The glacier had completely melted away by 2010. Chacaltaya was once home to one of the world's highest ski runs. An increase in near surface temperature combined with increased El Niï¿½o events which are in essence factors of climate change, have been identified as the primary causes of the recent disappearance of the Chacaltaya Glacier (Francou et al.). Glaciers serve as the main water source for the population living along the Andes and have economic importance as they provide irrigation for farming in the Altiplano and in the desert Pacific coast of Peru.

Figure 5 shows the glaciers of the Cordillera Real whose glacial melt help replenish Lake Titicaca's freshwater.The United Nations World Water Assessment Programme has stated that the loss of glaciers such as Chacaltaya “will translate into drought for thousands of people”. Today the glacier is now nothing more than a frigid reminder of what climate change can to do the environment. Fig. 5 Glacier distribution in the Cordillera Real Source: US Geological Survey The disappearance of the Chacaltaya glacier proved how sudden climate change destruction could occur. Lake Titicaca is losing 2-3 centimeters of water per day (Al Jazeera). Climatologist Mark Bush’s findings have predicted the tipping point for Lake Titicaca to be between 2040 and 2050. The tipping point is the point of no return; it is the moment when the lake will no longer be able to recover and will disappear. The tipping point includes a rise in temperature by 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above modern temperatures. His calculations were based on the growth limits of Andean forests and on the warming rate of the Peruvian Andes per decade.

Therefore, the most serious effects of climate change on Lake Titicaca will be noted over the next 30 to forty years and the end result, the loss of the world’s highest navigable lake, will change the region forever. 4. Location Arid Region - Altiplano Lake Titicaca is one of several lakes located in the northern end of the Endoheric Altiplano. The Altiplano is a high plateau upon which one finds an irregular climate. Lake Titicaca provides a large moderating influence on the area. The area has zones of diminishing humidity ranging from north to south with varying precipitation. Lake Titicaca is located in a relatively more humid zone, with Lake Poopo in an arid zone and Coipasa Salt Lake in the driest area. The southern, drier part of the system belongs to Bolivia. Lake Titicaca exists in a climate that is cool and dry. In the rainy season (January through March), clouds cover the sky and allow for only 6 hours of sunlight per day. The dry season has 9.6 hours of bright sunlight per day. Eighty percent of the area’s precipitation occurs during the rainy season.

The area has a rainy season in the summer and is driest in the winter. Air temperature varies on the latitude and longitude and proximity to the lake. Humidity is low throughout the area and solar radiation is high with an annual yield of 533 calories per square centimeter per day. (WWAP 467) 8. Act and Harm Sites: Bolivia and Peru (The TDPS System) III. CONFLICT ASPECTS 9. Type of Conflict: Resource Conflict This issue is a conflict focused on a struggle for resources. Lake Titicaca provides freshwater and economic support via fishing, irrigation, agriculture and tourism for both Bolivia and Peru. The loss of the lake could prove fatal for both economies and drive them to want to overcome the other in order to have what is left of the lake to themselves. 10. Level of Conflict: Medium The level of conflict is medium as the lake still exists and indigenous populations are still maintaining a traditional lifestyle. This case is primarily speculative, but evidence is clear and supportive of the claim. The indigenous communities are fighting for preservation of the lake and causing civil unrest in major cities as they voice their concerns. 11.

Fatality Level of Dispute (military and civilian fatalities): Medium Life expectancy of the population around Lake Titicaca's basin is 60.6 years in Peru and 58 in Bolivia. Deaths occur largely in part to malnutrition, infectious, respiratory and gastrointestinal disease and poor water quality. These deaths will skyrocket with the loss of the Titicaca Lake. There will be increased malnutrition and water quality related diseases as well as migratory diseases. These rural populations will seek refuge in the nearby cities and carry disease and infection into the urban centers. As conditions worsen in the rural Lake Titicaca region, urban populations will rise in both countries. (WWAP 467 - 468) Over time, the fatality level will rise however, and peak once Lake Titicaca reaches its tipping point. (Bush et al.) Nearby cities such as La Paz or El Alto could be affected by a lack of water when the lake is gone and populations will both suffer and potentially decrease. 12. Environment-Conflict Link and Dynamics: Causal Diagram Climate change has led to higher levels of solar radiation which has caused glacial melt and decreased rainfall; causing drought.

This has led to water loss in the Titicaca Lake which will ultimately cause stress for the indigenous populations inhabiting the region. They will compete and struggle for resources and the final result will be violent conflict amongst the people and aggression between the two nations sharing the resource. Peru and Bolivia have a system in place for governing the shared use and protection of the lake. However, the lake is situated in an area of extreme poverty. Water stress has already led to serious rebellion in Bolivia by the Aymara and Quechua. Extreme cases of poverty can be found on both sides of the lake, Peruvian and Bolivian. According to a joint study by UNESCO and ALT, there are high mortality rates around the lake, mainly in children, high incidence of infection and disease, deficiency in nutrition and poor health. A lack of water would exacerbate these problems and cause a struggle for resources and give rise to rebellion. Without water, farmers cannot irrigate their crops and many would lose their livelihoods. The people would then turn to the governments for aid and cause political instability. Political instability and indigenous conflict would converge and create violent conflict between the two nations in an attempt to seize what little they have left.

It is important that we study what is happening and help both nations come up with a plan to address the different scenarios that could happen or may already be happening. 13. Level of Strategic Interest: High This is a vital resource for both countries. While the relationship between them may currently be amicable, the amount of their population which depends on the lake and the amount of their economic success which depends on the lake (Bolivia especially, as it has no access to oceanic trade) will inevitably lead to conflict. 14. Outcome of Dispute: In Progress / Ongoing As stated previously, Lake Titicaca is showing signs of decline via increased evaporation and encroaching vegetation. However, the lake has not yet reached its tipping point. Once the lake begins to show drastic signs of shrinkage, the surrounding indigenous population will panic and rebellion will ensue. Recently, thousands of Aymara gathered in the Peruvian city of Puno and initated a complete standstill in the country's main roads demanding they be heard.

The indigenous people wished to see the end of a local mining project as well as the cancellation of any exploratory activity in the entire region of Puno, due to the effects it was having on their water supply and due to conflicts with communal lands. (Zecenarro) The ethnic groups inhabiting the TDPS system are many. They are emotional, dedicated and a determined people. They have a history of standing up for what they believe in, even if it means sacrificing their own lives. This recent uprising in Puno lasted nearly two months and six deaths have been associated with the pollution caused by the mining. No deaths have been recorded involving the uprising. This is only a taste of what could occur in the Titicaca region. Fear and survival will push the Aymara and the Urus of the Titicaca Lake to march into Bolivia and Peru and demand the lake be saved or they be compensated for the loss. Climate change will harm not only the ecosystem of the area, but the health of the people and the strength of the governments of Bolivia and Peru. It is imperative that both goverments work on solutions and mitigation strategies, but climate change is happening faster than solutions can be put in place.

It is up to the international community to aid in the protection of this region's most precious resource before it is too late. Bo, Teresa. Lake Titicaca evaporating away. Al Jazeera, 2009. Youtube. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. < Bush, M.B., J.A. Hanselman, and W.D. Gosling. "Nonlinear climate change and Andean feedbacks: an imminent turning point?" Global Change Biology 16.12 (2010): 3223–3232. Print. Delclaux, Francois, Anne Coudrain, and Thomas Condom. "Evaporation estimation on Lake Titicaca: a synthesis review and modelling." Hydrological Processes 21.13 (2007): 1664–1677. Print. Francou, Bernard, et al. "Tropical climate change recorded by a glacier in the central Andes during the last decades of the twentieth century: Chacaltaya, Bolivia, 16." Journal of Geophysical Research 108 (2003): n. pag. Print. United Nations. World Water Assessment Programme.

World Water Development Report 1. Vol. 1. Barcelona: UNESCO , 2003. Print. Valdez, Carlos. "Lake Titicaca shrinking an inch each week." MSNBC. MSN, 13 Nov. 2009. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. < us_news-environment/#.TujqcdRSR2A Zecenarro, Carlos. "Social Conflicts in Puno: The Twilight of the Mining in Peru?" Latin America Bureau. Oxfam, 18 July 2011. Web. 19 Dec. 2011. < index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1017&catid=1:blogs&Itemid=101>. 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: Case studies | Water Conflict Management and Transformation at OSU Autonomous Binational Authority working efficiently moving toward development goals. Figure 1: Map of Lake Titicaca (size: 111,800 km 2 (TFDD, 2007)). Background Populations have been living around Lake Titicaca for 10,000 years, dating back to the Archaic period. The first communities appeared around Titicaca in 1,200 BC and since then have increased in population and have become more dependent on its water for their livelihood for agriculture and navigation.

A series of natural occurring events took place in the 1980s which pushed the countries of Peru and Bolivia to manage the waters of Lake Titicaca in a more sustainable manner as the vulnerability of the inhabitants of the region was very high in extremely poor conditions that did not need to be exacerbated further. In the rainy seasons of 1982-3 and 1989-90, extreme droughts caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the agricultural industry, both crop and animal. The years in between experienced a higher than average rainfall and culminated in the severe floods of 1986-7 causing, again, over a hundred million dollars of damage to not only the agricultural industry, but to infrastructure as well. The problem Relations between Peru and Bolivia have always been good dating back to when they became independent nations in the 1800s. Lake Titicaca has not been a source of contention between the two states, but rather a reinforcement of their willing to cooperate with one another when their interests are mutual. The major problem; therefore, is not about conflict between Bolivia and Peru but how to develop and improve the living conditions of the extremely poor populations who live with the Titicaca basin.

Mario Revollo (2001) of the Autonomous Bi-national Authority of Lake Titicaca gives four explanations of the principle problems the lake region suffers. 1. Extreme weather events As mentioned above, the Lake Titicaca region experiences a high variability in terms of its weather patterns. With such fluctuations in rainfall, the well-being of the inhabitants of the basin is controlled by how much water falls from the sky. And this, from year-to-year, can change from too much to too little. There is a high level of uncertainty, and risk, living under such conditions. 2. Insufficient regulatory works Even though the Lake Titicaca is very large and has significant volume, the hydrological balance of the entire TDPS system is very delicate due to the inflow vulnerability as a result of high evaporation. The regulation of the lake's water is deficient in that it does not prioritize sectors of water use and there are insufficient works in place to do so. 3. Environmental degradation Living beside such a large body of water, people sometimes take for granted the effects of pollution can have.

While pollution has never been a regional concern for the two countries, as the volume of the lake is so large, there are several examples of punctual cases of pollution near major population centers such as Puno, Peru, and Copacabana, Bolivia. The lack of sewage treatment plants around the lake causes most waste to be put directly into Titicaca and, as a result, pollution levels have been rising over the decades, thereby contaminating water. Other sources of degradation come from the cattle industry that surrounds the lake and the loss of soil due to their impact and, with regards to the fishing industry, the introduction of exotic species and the over-fishing of both those and indigenous species has left the lake with smaller and smaller fish. 4. Socioeconomics Extreme levels of poverty have existed within the Lake Titicaca basin for several decades now. This has been intensified by the two nations' negative economic growth rate over the last ten years. Because most of the people who reside around the lake are subsistence farmers, the negative effects of Bolivia and Peru 's economic decline have been acute.

With ever-diminishing and abused natural resources as a result of lack of education in the region, the stress under which the people live does not create a environment conducive to awareness regarding pollution and sustainability. Attempts at conflict management With great vision, Peru and Bolivia have been trying to address the development of the Lake Titicaca region since the 1950s. In 1957, after preliminary declarations by the presidents and foreign ministers, Bolivia and Peru signed the first-ever agreement concerning the waters of Lake Titicaca. It was called the Preliminary Convention for the Study of the Use of the Waters of Lake Titicaca and provided for the "indivisible and exclusive joint ownership of both countries of the waters of the lake" while at the same time creating a joint management entity known as the Joint Sub-commission (Sub-Comisión mixta). The purpose of the Convention was to promote development within the basin of Lake Titicaca in a manner that would not disrupt the flow and volume as to affect the navigational uses of the body of water.

Peru immediately ratified the Convention in 1957, but it took almost thirty years and several severe weather occurrences before, at the end of 1986, Bolivia also ratified the agreement. The economic losses incurred during the drought of 1982-3 and the floods of 1986-87, pressured the Bolivian government to ratify in order to improve the management situation of the lake. During the period before the ratification, both countries conducted its own research concerning Lake Titicaca, but did so in a coordinated way. After ratification occurred, the Joint Sub-commission become SUBICOMILAGO, the Joint Sub-commission for the Development of the Integrated Region of Lake Titicaca. Entities within each country were formed during this same time period, PELT (Lake Titicaca Special Projects) on the Peruvian side and the UOB (Bolivian Operating Unit) on the Bolivian side. From 1991 to 1993, Peru and Bolivia solicited the cooperation of the European Community in order to help develop a framework for a Binational Master Plan.

By 1995, the Binational Master Plan for the Control and Prevention of Floods and for the Use of Resources of the TDPS System (Lake Titicaca, Desaguadero River, Lake Poopo and Coipasa Salt Lake ) had been approved by both countries and, in April of 1996, signed and put into effect by June 1. During the process of the creation of the Master Plan, diplomatic notes were exchanged between the governments of Peru and Bolivia, which led to the establishment of the Binational Autonomous Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT). Outcome The Autonomous Binational Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT) was created with the objective to implement and enforce the management, control and protection of the Lake Titicaca system's water resources as laid out in the Master Plan. Each country has administrative entities that coordinate with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both nations and with one another. The technically oriented units of Peru and Bolivia, PELT and UOB, respectively, coordinate the actions of the governments and centralize information (Figure 2). Since its inauguration in 1996, ALT has been able to achieve some considerable advancement in the area of regulatory works within the basin.

A series of projects was initiated and the first major dam was finished in 2001, near the mouth of the Desaguadero River. These "doors" will attempt to control flood situations when the level of the lake rises above 3,810 meters above sea level. In creating this dam, irrigation yields have increased on both sides of the border as Peruvians and Bolivians are better able to utilize the lakes water resources. Figure 2: Lake Titicaca organizational chart Although ALT, a concept, has been considered a success story, because of its ability to prevent natural disasters from having large impacts on the local populations around Lake Titicaca and how smoothly the entity operates, there still has been only minimal progress in terms of achieving its goals that it set out to do in the Master Plan. ALT has only been in existence for less than ten years, so it is a very young entity and, at times, is working in a climate of civil unrest on both sides of the border, which has an influence on its effectiveness. The major concern, and the central reason and why ALT has not been very effective in the basin, is their lack of programs to include the public in a participatory process in the management of the lake.

Without such mechanism in place, there is only so much that ALT can accomplish in an area that is so struck by poverty. A lack of stakeholder participation is hurting the success of the Binational Authority. ALT has advanced a great degree in a short time and it must be said that the organization has great potential for being one of the model international water basin management institutions in the world. Lessons learned Without stakeholder participation in the management of water resources, efficiency and effectiveness are limited. With little or no stakeholder participation in the management of the Lake Titicaca basin, ALT has only been minimally effective at producing results. It is clear that a more comprehensive system of inclusion of the public is needed to take place in order for the Authority to complete its goals. If three out of the four problems identified by the institution deal with the people's actions on the water and land in the basin, then they must be included for optimal functioning of the initiative. Otherwise, gaps and resentment are created by an organization acting above those who most use the lake. By viewing the basin as a joint body of water shared equally between countries, much conflict is avoided.

By signing an agreement in 1957, Peru and Bolivia bound themselves into considering Lake Titicaca as a shared body of water, owned by neither country, but both. As a result, there are few, if any, "upstream versus downstream" issues (even though the Desaguadero River does flow into Bolivia from the lake). The countries have worked very well in a cooperative way to manage the lake, both doing their parts. This can largely be attributed to the lake being "owned" by both nations. Creative outcomes resulting from resolution process The development of a master plan in conjunction with a joint autonomous management entity which oversees the development of the lake has allowed the two nations move forward with relative ease once funding has been secured for joint ventures. Timeline 1955 Declarations by Presidents and Ministers of State of Bolivia and Peru to begin diagnostic studies of the Lake Titicaca basin.

1957 Both countries signed the "Preliminary Convention for the Study of the Use of the Waters of Lake Titicaca," an agreement establishing the adoption of a plan to develop the economic uses of Lake Titicaca without altering the navigation and volume of the lake and creating a joint management entity known as SUBCOMILAGO, the Joint Sub-commission for the Development of the Integrated Region of Lake Titicaca. 1982-3 Water level of Lake Titicaca reaches highest level in decades - YouTube Water level of Lake Titicaca reaches highest level in decades Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jul 30, 2015 Lake Titicaca - 16 March 2012 1. Wide of sun shining over the Lake Titicaca 2. Different view of the lake 3. Close up of the waves 4. Various of rising water of the lake flooding lowlands on its shores 5.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Francisco Tarqui, farmer on shores of Lake Titicaca: "It has affected all the potatoes. Look over there..." (he points) "they are trying to get them out. All those potatoes, all this area on the shores of Lake Titicaca is affected." 6. Various of damaged crops of quinoa and potatoes on the shores of the lake La Paz - 16 March 2012 7. Exterior of office of the Autonomous Binational Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT) 8. Map showing the lake, which straddles Bolivia's border with Peru 9. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Jorge Pena, Executive President, Autonomous Binational Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT): ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++ "If we have had flooding on farming land, it is simply because all those lowlands had been taken over (by farmers) because we had such a long drought." Lake Titicaca - 16 March 2012 10. Indigenous woman and boats in the shores 11.Top shot of crop surrounded by rising water, zoom in 12.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Mario Laura, farmer on shores of Lake Titicaca: "It's (water level) affecting us too much, it shouldn't be like this. Potatoes, gone, oats, gone, beans too, everything underwater." 13. Wide shot farmer pulls up damaged crop and waves it at camera 14. Various of sunset on the lake STORYLINE After one of the heaviest rainy seasons in the Andean highlands of Peru and Bolivia, the water level of Lake Titicaca, which straddles the border between the two countries, has reached its highest in decades, putting at risk the livelihood of thousands of Aymara farmers who live on its Bolivian shores. Authorities said the levels are a few centimetres away from the 3,810 metres registered in 1988, the highest mark ever recorded in the lake, which is the highest commercially navigable lake in the world, and the largest in South America. The rising waters of the lake, which are shared by Peru and Bolivia, have flooded hundreds of acres of farming lands and their crops of potatoes, quinoa and oats. "It's affecting us too much, it shouldn't be like this.

Potatoes, gone, oats, gone, beans too, everything underwater," said Mario Laura, a farmer from one of the 30 villages affected by the flooding on the Bolivian side of the lake. For years, the lake experienced constant receding waters and many communities took over the lowlands and started farming on land that was originally part of the lake. But this year, that trend was dramatically reversed, when the meteorological phenomenon of La Nina caused a 39 percent increase in the rains of January and February in Bolivia. Jorge Pena, Executive President of the Autonomous Binational Authority of Lake Titicaca, explained. "If we have had flooding on farming land, it is simply because all those lowlands had been taken over (by farmers) because we had such a long drought," he said. You can license this story through AP Archive: Find out more about AP Archive: Category Lifeline of a lake: since Bolivia and Peru share a common border with Lake Titicaca, both are working together to preserve the beauty of this natural wonder and enhance the lives of its inhabitants.

- Free Online Library Lifeline of a lake: since Bolivia and Peru share a common border with Lake Titicaca, both are working together to preserve the beauty of this natural wonder and enhance the lives of its inhabitants. Page URL: HTML link: <a href=" Citations: MLA style: "Lifeline of a lake: since Bolivia and Peru share a common border with Lake Titicaca, both are working together to preserve the beauty of this natural wonder and enhance the lives of its inhabitants.." The Free Library. 2008 Organization of American States 17 Jan. 2017 Chicago style: The Free Library. S.v. Lifeline of a lake: since Bolivia and Peru share a common border with Lake Titicaca, both are working together to preserve the beauty of this natural wonder and enhance the lives of its inhabitants.." Retrieved Jan 17 2017 from APA style: Lifeline of a lake: since Bolivia and Peru share a common border with Lake Titicaca, both are working together to preserve the beauty of this natural wonder and enhance the lives of its inhabitants.. (n.d.) >The Free Library. (2014).

Retrieved Jan 17 2017 from [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Few borders in the world show as much cultural similarity on both sides as the one between Peru and Bolivia. In the Andean highlands, Lake Titicaca is the geographic accident that joins these two countries whose cultures have evolved together for most of history. This is one of the clearest examples of an artificial border; there is no change of culture or scenery when you cross to the other side. Lake Titicaca is a unique place on the American continent for several reasons. For one thing, if you consider Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo part of a Caribbean gulf, Titicaca is the lake with the largest volume of water in South America. It is also known for its altitude--12,467 feet above sea level--and for the way in which its extraordinary environment has forged the character of the area's inhabitants. Its geological origins go back to the Pleistocene period when an ancient inland sea called Lake Ballivian covered a large part of the highland plateau. Then, as a result of various geological processes and of evaporation, it lost some of its depth and became two lakes: Titieaca and Minchin.

The latter, in turn, morphed into what is today known as Lake Poopo and the salt flats of Coipasa and Uyuni. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The scientific origin of the area has its mythical counterpart in the creation story of the ancestral peoples who have lived in the area since the beginning of time. The pre-Inca Tiahuanaco civilization believed that the Sun and Viracocha both emerged from the mysterious depths of the lake and that Viracocha created heaven and earth. The Inca beheved that this was the birthplace of their civilization. This was the place where Manco Capac--one of the last Tiahuanacos and the founder of the Inca Empire--was born in the midst of an exodus, during a time when his people were fleeing Aymara invasions. According to legend, the Sun and the Moon were both born from the waters of the lake. It is easy to imagine how people who watched the sun rise over this immense body of water might have thought this idea entirely reasonable. The Inca civilization lasted for centuries until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.

Then, the empire was destroyed, but the spirit of the civilization hves on, in part, through the area's inhabitants who practice the Inca moral code even today. In Quechua this is summed up as: Ama suwa, area llulla, ama qilla--"thou shall not steal; thou shall not lie; thou shall not be lazy." Currently, Lake Titicaca is fed primarily by the merging and melting of the gigantic glaciers of the Royal Andean Range. Since the lake is almost completely sealed off, it loses about 90 percent of its water through evaporation. Desaguadero River, which drains into Lake Poopo, accounts for the remaining 10 percent. The depth of Lake Titicaca varies at different points, but averages around 350 feet deep. It is actually two lakes, or sub-basins, connected by the Tiquina Strait. The Peruvian and Bolivian sides are very similar, though the people who live on each skte like to tease each other about differences. One of the best known distinctive features of both sides is the classic dress of the cholitas.

But the origin of the cholita dress isn't indigenous; it was imposed by King Carlos III after the uprising of Jose Gabriel Tupac Amaru in 1781. In fact, it is eighteenth century traditional Spanish attire. The braids were imposed by the Viceroy of Toledo to tell the Indians apart from the mestiza and Spanish women. The bowler hat was adopted later, in the early twentieth century when, due to a shipping error, a large number of men's hats were sent to La Paz. The salesman, desperate to avoid losses, talked young women into buying them by promising them that the hat would bring fertility. The population is spread out in clusters along the sides of the lake, and in the handful of islands that dot the lake's surface. None of the islands has paved roads, nor is that necessary since there are no motorized vehicles on any of them. On the eastern shore, on Bolivia's side, is the lost city of Copacabana. Though small in size, it is the primary urban hub on the Bolivian side of the lake and a historic center for religious pilgrimage.

Located between two hills called Calvario and Nino Calvario, it is also the capital of Manco Cfipac Province in the Department of La Paz and it is the primary port from which boats set sail to the sacred island of the Inca, Isla del Sol. With the only beach in Bolivia, the area has been turned into a recreation site for the relatively few wealthy families of La Paz. Cycling, taking trips on one of the many rental boats, and having lunch on the shores of the lake are some of the many activities enjoyed by these Bolivians. Every Saturday, in front of the Shrine of Our Lady of Copacabana, you can see a multitude of cars, trucks, and busses, covered with flowers, colorful ribbons, and confetti. This is the "Blessing of the Vehicles," a ritual consecration of cars that people from all over the Department of La Paz appreciate and make a special effort to attend. Car owners wear their finest and invite passersby to drink a glass of wine or beer. While one priest blesses a shiny blue--probably new--bus, the owner looks on with interest. The ceremony has to be done correctly so his passenger transportation business will be successful!

The whole family has come out for the occasion, and when the priest goes on to bless another vehicle, they invite me to a glass of beer. But first, they advise me, I have to pour part of the contents of the glass on the ground. "Why?" I ask with curiosity. "For Pachamama," the man replies as his family members nod their heads in agreement. Pachamama is Mother Earth in a profound sense. She is a protector deity, perhaps the most important of the indigenous region. A person has to show respect for her with small gestures like these. The mix of Catholicism and indigenous worship is something that is present throughout the highlands. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] From the lakeshore, you see the water disappear over the distant horizon; it looks more like an ocean than a lake. In fact, it is the only ocean Bolivians have since they lost their Pacific access to the Chileans after the 1879-1884 War of the Pacific. Since then, Bolivia's ocean has been Lake Titicaca, and the Bolivian Navy has conducted its operations on the waters of the lake.

The most traditional Bolivia--in terms of its way of life--is found between Copacabana and the Strait of Yampupata. Tourists almost never come to this area so economic activities haven't changed in centuries. The inhabitants spend their time farming, fishing, and harvesting from the eucalyptus forests. In each patio, piles of choclo (corn) are drying in the sun. Without the help of income from tourism, life is especially hard here. Fortunately, the moisture from Titicaca softens the extreme conditions a bit here at 13,000 feet above sea level. This region has a little more relief from inclement conditions than the rest of the surrounding Andean highlands where people are struggling to survive. The moisture that envelops the lake and the shore areas allow crops like corn and potatoes to grow. These staples are complemented by fish, primarily trout and pejerrey, a source of protein that is a luxury in the region. The totora reed used to build traditional boats, is also harvested here.

As we cross the Strait of Yampupata headed towards the Isla del Sol, we can see in the distance, behind the Isla de la Luna, the imposing peaks of Illampu and Ancohuma, 20,873 and 21,095 feet. above sea level respectively. These are the highest peaks of the Royal Range, with snow year round and glaciers that feed into the lake. Reaching our band out from the small boat, we can touch water that has taken centuries to arrive--centuries front the time it falls as snow on the mountains, to when it becomes part of the glacier's ice, to the moment when the merging glaciers send it, melted, into the lake. Perhaps this water that is running though our fingers now was deposited on the summit during the time when Manco Capac was beginning his travels. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) used to be called Isla Titi'kaka, so it is quite possible that, the name of the lake originated here.

According to some linguists, Titi'kaka could be a corruption of the words Titi (puma) and Kala (rock), meaning "the Rock of the Puma." The current name of the island probably comes from the fact that it was a sanctuary dedicated to the Sun god, lnti, during the Inca Empire. While this island is close to the mainland, and paleoclimatic studies show that the water level of lake was considerably lower in about 3100 BC, it was never actually connected to the mainland. Bathymetrie surveys show that the island has always been surrounded by water more than 650 feet deep. Underwater archeological digs carried out. between 1989 and 1992 found remains of both Inca and Tiahuanaco civilizations. These objects are now found in the Museum of Cha'llapampa. Other areheological sites are found throughout the island. According to legend, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo emerged from the sacred Roca de los Origenes (Rock of Origins) to found Cusco.

One of the best preserved sites on the island is the labyrinth-like Chincana archeological site, and the most frequent entryway to the island is the staircase that passes by the Fountain of the Inca--from which abundant fresh water springs--to the edge of the Yumani village. The main economic activities here include raising sheep, fishing, terrace farming and, during the last few years, tourism. On the Peruvian side of the lake is the town of Puno where boats set. sail towards various islands on the west side. One group of islands, known as the Islands of the Uros, is particularly interesting in that they are manmade. The Uros are an ethnic group that date back to a time before the Inca, and they made these floating islands out of totora roots. The totora plant (Schoenoplectus californicus tatora) has been the primary resource for the architectural, technological, and artisanal culture of these islands. Making an island requires several steps. First you have to anchor the floating base to the bottom of the lake. The base is made up of dense cubic packages of totora roots, which are affixed to the bottom with a rope and a stake.

Next to the first block, you continue to anchor more blocks, connecting them almost like a jigsaw puzzle until you reach the amount of surface area you want on your island. Over this base, you pile up beds of totora reeds that will make up the island floor. The Uro people live in houses made with handfuls of the same material, and incredibly, the roofs never leak when it rains. At least, that's what Juan Carlos proudly tells us. Juan Carlos is a twelve year old boy who has lived in these kinds of houses all his life. He shows us his house, explaining that the reeds expand with moisture, so that it is actually the rain itself that ends up waterproofing the roof. The material is not very long-lasting, however, so it does have to be redone periodically. Every two weeks, a new layer of totora reeds is deposited on the island floor to compensate for what is being lost to rotting below, where the reeds have constant contact with the water. A totora boat can usually last a year and the houses have to be redone every three months. It used to be that the Uros only lived on these manmade islands.

In fact, the only Uros on terrafirrna were the dead, buried in cemeteries on dry land. But that's not true anymore. The Uro people now live in many places throughout the country. Taquile Island is not artificial but, at only about two square miles, it is quite small. The name comes from the fact that the island was owned by the court of Rodrigo de Taquile during the time of the conquest. This tiny island houses about 2,000 people today who have a remarkable sense of identity; in fact, they rarely marry people who are not from the island. The local textiles are particularly fine and delicate here, the finest, some say, in all of Peru. A certain symbolism is associated with the costume. For example, if a man wears a red hat, it means he is married. If the hat he wears is red and white, it means he is looking for a partner. Electricity hasn't arrived to Taquile Island yet, except for the little that is produced by some solar panels. A few years ago, there were generators on the island but the rising price of oil has made this method too expensive.

The small island of Amantani is another natural island, which is home to more than 800 families, 4,000 people. Every bit of the island is being farmed here, and even hillsides are cultivated with terraces growing staple foods like potatoes, quinoa, barley, and lima beans. The people who live here speak Quechua but they are more closely related to the Aymara culture. In their little house on a hillside, Matilde and Osvaldo tell me that Amantani Island doesn't have electricity yet, but there are plans for an underwater connection from the shore. They and some other families use a battery connected to a solar panel to light up a low-watt light bulb for a few hours at night. Most of the houses still use candles, however. Matilde makes dinner with firewood that her husband has collected. Their youngest son, Roger, entertains himself nearby. The island has been home to families like this one since ancient times, as evidenced by the Inca and Tiahuanaco ruins at the top of two small mountains called Pachatata and Pachamama-Father and Mother Earth, respectively.

Closer to the shore, a woman named Casimira gathers some plants call Layu. Seated on the ground, she tells me how these plants are good forage for sheep and that they can also be used for medicinal teas for human beings. Life goes by at a slow pace in this part of the world. As the sun sets over the lake, the sky darkens quickly. The thin air of this high altitude does nothing to obstruct the exceptional view. In a few minutes the Milky Way crosses over the earth and thousands of stars light up the sky in a brilliant reverie. RELATED ARTICLE: Joint action protects Lake Titigaga. Text and photographs by Mark Holston Residents of the small Peruvian city of Yunguyo have long been aware of the importance of nearby Lake Titicaca to their very existence. Strategically located on a peninsula near the border of Bolivia and Peru, the municipality is the primary transit point for travelers making their way to the neighboring Bolivian town of Copacabana. The money changers who line Yunguyo's narrow streets attest to the importance of tourism to the area while a steady flow of trucks heavily laden with agricultural products and manufactured goods underscore the city's role as a conduit for international commerce.

Today, however, the lake and its critical link to the region's economic wellbeing is being given closer attention by many who might have previously been content to take it for granted. In the courtyard of a nearby elementary school, teachers gather for a workshop being sponsored and conducted by education specialists of Lake Titicaca Special Projects (PELT), one of several Peruvian government agencies currently active in the area and focused on protecting and improving the lake's water quality. The teachers organize themselves into small groups to discuss how they can incorporate lake-related themes into their curriculum. Later, they gather in a classroom to compare notes and hear presentations by PELT officials who reinforce a simple but not adequately understood point: the lake's long-term health is directly linked to virtually every facet of local life, from the economy to public health. It is even linked to spirituality as the Aymara people believe the lake was the birthplace of the universe. In Copacabana, Fernando Salas Tapia, a Peruvian engineer who serves on the technical cabinet of the Autonomous Bi-National Authority for Lake Titicaca (ALT), inspects the town's recently-installed municipal wastewater treatment plant, which has dramatically reduced pollution sources in this important tourist center.

Across the lake in the Peruvian city of Puno, the largest urban center on Titicaca, tons of green algae that periodically choke Puno's lively harbor have been scooped up and hauled away Scientists are pondering how to reduce the sources of contamination that produce the unwanted algae growth. Throughout the region, dozens of other specialists are at work on projects to prevent contamination, conserve water, protect the lake's vital commercial fishery, and educate the public about how a clean Lake Titicaca will benefit them. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ALT was created in 1996 after almost four decades of negotiations between Bolivia and Peru as to how to manage this economically and culturally significant shared natural resource. Although it is headquartered in La Paz, Bolivia, Peru supplies most of its funding and human resources. ALT's current executive president, Julian Barra Catacora, is a genial native of Puno with degrees in oceanography and fisheries engineering. He explains how his staff of about two dozen people implements plans that have been mutually agreed to by both nations in order to manage and protect the lake. Work on the ground, he adds, is carried out by the technical specialists of agencies in each country.

In Peru, tackling the lake's problems is the day-to-day task of Alberto Lezcano, engineer and the executive director of PELT, and his Puno-based staff. The mandate of Lezcano and his Bolivian counterpart extends far beyond the lake's expansive shores to all of the greater watershed's nearly 56,000 square miles. It is a vast region that also includes Lake Poopo, six river systems, and countless lagoons. The difficulty of effectively managing Titicaca and its surrounding area is exacerbated by an unusually high evaporation rate, the lack of sewage systems, degradation (due to improper . livestock management), and other human and natural influences. In spite of limited resources, the region's endemic poverty, and the unpredictable variables of natural events like flooding and drought, ALT has been able to score some significant successes.

"It is hard to quantify conservation success in large lake regions," admits Mario Revollo, an ALT researcher based In La Paz, Bolivia, "but water use projects are being prioritized, city wastewater pollution in the Bay of Puno is being reduced and ameliorated, and a large biodiversity project is underway through the Global Environment Facility, a non-governmental organization that helps developing nations carry out such projects." Meanwhile, outside observers are impressed by the progress they've seen to date. Oregon State University researcher Joshua T. Newton comments that while the project's effectiveness has been hobbled somewhat by a lack of widespread public involvement, "ALT has advanced a great degree in a short time and it must be said that the organization has great potential for being one of the model international water basin management institutions in the world." In terms of the example that ALT offers to other nations that share important natural resources, J. Todd Waiters, director of Experiential Peacebuilding at the Washington, DC-based Center for Peace Building International, is effusive in his praise of the effort.

"The systematic progression of the 'culture of cooperation' around the joint management of the water resources in Lake Titicaca," Waiters says, "is an example which should be highlighted to the world as a potential roadmap to successful environmental peacebuilding efforts across political boundaries. The cross-border collaboration, evident at multiple levels of society, is a shining example of how to cooperate to manage and preserve water resources on a border that are critical to the survival of both countries." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A musician and journalist, Mark Holston is a regular contributor to Americas. Jordi Busque is an astrophysicist and professional photographer. COPYRIGHT 2008 Organization of American States No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder. Copyright 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Article Details Uros People of Lake Titicaca, Peru – Wild Junket Adventure Travel Blog Uros People of Lake Titicaca, Peru Posted on August 2, 2009 by Nellie Huang ‹ The vast Lake Titicaca stretches 58,000 km2 across two countries, Peru and Bolivia, and sits at a high altitude of 3812m. From the distance, it almost looks like the sea with the endless horizon. The legendary lake is stunning, but what draws me to it is the indigenous natives who have created their unique culture and way of living, making them intriguing and all the more captivating. Artificial Floating Villages Around the vicinity of the city of Puno, Southern Peru, there are over 60 little floating villages on Lake Titicaca that the Uros people have constructed with natural resources. Using reeds, or in Quechua language ‘Totora’ (a strong aquatic plant), they build temporary houses that float atop the water surface. The tide washes over their houses at times, so new layers of reed need to be laid every 2 weeks for better resistance.

We had the great opportunity to visit one of the floating villages where 8 Uros families live. Recently opened to tourists, these families are barely familiar with foreigners and can only speak Quechua language (descendents of the Incas). They showed us their homes, and their colorful work of art and sang beautiful melodies of the Uros. We also got to ride on their boats weaved out of reed, or how they called ‘Balsa de Totora’. Self-sufficiency The Uros people lead a simple life, catching food from the lake, exchanging fish for any products they need and getting all their basic necessities from the environment. Education (primary and secondary) is free in Peru. They weave their own clothes and materials. In other words, they are completely self-sufficient. They do not need money as they get everything they need from the natural surroundings. If everywhere in the world worked this way, our environment and the Earth might just be saved from destruction. Descendants of the Incas The Inca civilization had stretched from Mexico all the way through to Peru. There are two main groups of descendents from ancient civilizations – the Quechua and the Aymara-speaking people.

Puno is the only place in the world where you can find people from the two indigenous groups living unanimously together. Above Puno towards the North, there are only Quechua-speaking people, while in the South are the Aymara-speaking group. It is definitely intriguing to hear the Uros speak these ancient languages that their ancestors had spoken thousands of years ago. Many do not speak Spanish, the official language of the country. Taquile Island The soul of Lake Titicaca lies on the unique Taquile Island that is blessed with the natural backdrop of Bolivia’s Cordillera Real (Royal Mountain Range) and a hilly landscape. It also boasts of a thick and rich culture that the locals have fortunately retained and flourished. The people of Taquile island have their distinct costumes, influenced by Catalunyas’ Sadarnas (Spanish traditional wear). We were lucky enough to have lunch at a local family’s home, where they shared with us their local dance and costume. Lake Titicaca Culinary Delights The Uros and inhabitants all over Lake Titicaca get their food from the lake, which means fish is their main staple.

They do not eat any red meat, and have a healthy diet based on fish, potatoes and quinoa. Quinoa is an extremely popular South American grain that is as healthy and nutritional as soya bean. We sampled some freshly fried corvina fish and quinoa soup that were definitely some of the best Peruvian cuisine we’ve had. Like what they say, home cooked food is always the best. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————— This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip through South America so far, with a surreal and rare peek deep into the hearts of the locals. Despite tourism being over-developed in many countries including some parts of Peru, this part of the world still stays relatively real.

Question: Lake Titicaca is on the border between two countries, name one of them
Answer: Peru and Bolivia