Geologists believe that the lake is titicaca. Lake Titicaca: "The Mysterious Andean Sea

Titicaca(Spanish Titicaca) is the largest freshwater lake in South America, the second in surface area (after the lake in Venezuela) on the continent: the basin area is 8.3 thousand km², the maximum length is 190 km, the maximum width is about 80 km, and the average depth of the lake ranges from 100 to 281 m. Located in South America, at an altitude of more than 3.8 thousand meters above sea level, Titicaca is considered the highest navigable lake in the world.

The origin of the name of the reservoir is not reliably known, it consists of 2 words of the tribal language: "Titi" - "puma" and "caca" - "rock". That is, Titicaca is a "stone puma". From a bird's eye view, the contour of the lake really resembles the outline of a cougar, a sacred animal of the Quechua people.

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Location and geographic features

Lake Titicaca is located on (Spanish. Altiplano), surrounded by picturesque snow-capped mountain peaks and fertile valleys. Scientific studies of the topography of the mountains, fauna and the chemical composition of the lake water have shown that once the reservoir was a sea bay and was 3.75 thousand meters lower than today.

Geologists say that the lake was a gulf of the sea about 100 million years ago, the reservoir to this day is mainly inhabited by marine species of fish and crustaceans; on the slopes of the mountains there are traces of the surf, and on the shores of the lake there are fossilized remains of sea animals. It should be noted that the Andes are young mountains, their growth continues to this day.

For the inhabitants of the Altiplano high plateau, the huge lake is at the same time a source of water, building material and the main supplier of food, as well as a colossal heating pad that softens the climate of the cold desert region, because the water temperature in the reservoir never drops below + 11 ° C. It is no coincidence that people have settled on the shores of the lake since ancient times (more than 10 thousand years ago).

The lake is divided by a narrow strait of Tiquina (Spanish Tiquina) into two bodies of water, which are called differently in each country: in Bolivia, the smaller body of water is called "Lago Huinaymarca", the larger one is called "Lago Chucuito", in Peru, parts of the lake are called respectively "Lago Pequeno" and Lago Grande.

Titicaca

The lake is often called the twin of Lake Baikal, because it is practically a closed reservoir, into which more than 300 rivers flowing down from glaciers flow, and the only small Desaguadero river(Spanish Río Desaguadero, "dehydrating"), which carries away about 10% of the volume of water and flows into the saline (Spanish Lago Poopo), located in Bolivia. With a salinity of about 1%, Titicaca is considered a freshwater lake.

Water comes to the lake from melted glacial waters and atmospheric precipitation. About 27 rivers (5 of which are large) are fed by glaciers located throughout the entire high-mountain plateau, then flow into the lake. The largest of the rivers is the Ramis (Spanish Ramis), which flows into the northwestern part of the lake, which accounts for almost ½ of the water volume of Titicaca.

The lake has 41 islands, the largest of which is Isla del Sol. There are many settlements and Quechua around the reservoir and on the islands. Part of the population lives on floating reed islands called. On the western (Peruvian) shore of the lake is located (Spanish Puno), the administrative center and The largest city province of the same name.

Animal world

Lake Titicaca is home to a significant population of various bird species (over 60), including rare ones, both permanent residents and migratory ones. For this reason, in 1998 the lake was included in the register of wetlands of international importance. The Titicacus flightless grebe is found here, which is now under threat of complete extinction. Among other birds, the Chilean flamingo, the white-billed ibex, the cormorant, the night heron, the Andean swallow, and all kinds of ducks live here.

The lake is home to 18 species of amphibians, among which the most famous is the Titicacus whistler - a frog that can breathe under water, which lives in the swampy areas of the lake under stones, only occasionally coming to the surface.

Because of great height above sea level and extreme temperatures, in the area of the lake there are only a few species of mammals, including llamas, alpacas, Andean wolf, Andean fox, Andean skunk, wild guinea pig and Whiskasha (a rodent resembling a rabbit).

In the 30s and 40s of the XX century, several species of fish, more economically profitable for the region, were released into the lake, since then local fish species have become rare and disappearing. Today, the most widespread here are trout (lake and rainbow trout), which have taken root in the lake.

Climate

The lake is located in the alpine zone, where temperatures are cool throughout most of the year. Winters are dry, with mild daytime temperatures and cold nights. The average surface temperature is between + 10 ° C and + 14 ° C. In winter (June-August) the water temperature is around + 10 ° C.

Myths of a mysterious lake

Titicaca is one of the most mysterious and beautiful lakes in the world, which is considered the cradle of Teotihuacan and the indigenous Indian Andean tribes (Aymara, Quechua). In ancient times, according to Inca mythology, the Earth experienced terrible natural disasters and a global flood, as a result of which our planet was plunged into darkness and cold, and the human race was threatened with extinction.

Some time after the great flood, the creator god Virakocha (ketch Wiraqucha) emerged from the depths of the lake. Traveling to the islands of Amantani (Spanish Amantani), Isla del Sol (Spanish Isla del Sol) and Isla de la Luna (Spanish Isla de la Luna), Viracocha ordered the Sun (Inti) to rise first, then the Moon (Mama-Kilya). Then, ascending to (Spanish: Tiahuanaco), he began to populate the world, re-creating a man and a woman. Tiwanaku remains a sacred site in the Andes to this day.

Lake Titicaca and Isla del Sol

Considering that the Sun and the Moon originated on Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna, located in the middle of the lake, the Incas erected temples dedicated to the heavenly elements on them. The region was considered a popular pilgrimage route long before the arrival of Europeans. The supreme rulers of the Incas themselves rushed to the lake to worship their shrines. Archaeologists have discovered sanctuaries created in 500 BC, that is, the islands of the lake were considered sacred sites of ancient pre-Incan civilizations, from which the Incas inherited them. The lake was the cradle of the Tiahuanaco civilization, which fell into oblivion around 1200 AD.

Major attractions

The picturesque rocky and hilly island of Isla del Sol, located in the southern part of the lake, is considered one of the most famous places in Bolivia. According to the Inca legend, it was on this island that the children of the Sun were born: Manco Capac (Spanish Manco Capac; the first Inca, founder of Tahuantinsuyu - the Inca state) and his wife Mama Ocllo, Inca Adam and Eve. There are no cars or paved roads on the island at all. The population of about 5 thousand inhabitants is mainly engaged in agriculture and fishing; in recent years, the islanders have earned money on tourism.

Isla del Sol has about 90 archaeological ruins, most of which date back to the 14th - 15th centuries. AD (during the reign of the Incas), the most significant of which are as follows:

In total, the lake has 32 "sedentary", natural islands. In addition, in the Gulf of Puno (on the Peruvian side of Titicaca), more than 40 artificial reed floating islands are of great interest, known as "" (Spanish Uros) - by the name of their creators and owners, the Uros Indians.

The unique floating structures were woven by the Indians from the Totor reeds that grow here in abundance. In the 13th century, at the time of the arrival of the Incas, Uros lived on the coast. Not wanting to submit to the powerful empire, they built their own shelters right in the middle of the lake. The recalcitrant Indians ate the roots of the reed - totors, from which, with the addition of clay, they sculpted islets and huts drifting along the lake. The Inca civilization has long sunk into oblivion, and the Uros culture still exists today.

The largest of the islands is home to about 10 families. The islanders continue to traditionally live off bird hunting, fishing and trade with the Aymara tribes. But today the main source of income for the inhabitants of the floating islands has become tourism, which over the past decades has radically changed the established way of life in Uros.

The Indians learned how to produce handicrafts, souvenirs, take pictures with tourists, ride them on reed boats, making good money with this.

One of the islands of Uros

Takuile Island

The island of Takuile (Spanish Taquile), located on the Peruvian part of the lake (45 km from Puno), was one of the last places in Peru to conquer the Spanish crown. The island has an area of 5.5 x 1.6 km² and is home to about 2.2 thousand inhabitants.

The islanders are renowned for their textile craftsmanship. Women make yarn and weave linen, knitting is done exclusively by men, starting from the age of 8. In 2005, UNESCO entered the textile art of the inhabitants of Takuile in the register of “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.

The way of life of the islanders from ancient times has been built on the principles of collectivism and a moral code: “Ama sua, ama llulla, ama qhilla” (with Quechua “Do not steal, do not lie, do not be lazy”). There are no dogs or police on Takuila at all, because the islanders do not break the law. There is no electricity, no roads - only paths and steps. There are no hotels here either; tourists stop by turns in the houses of hospitable and hospitable local residents. The well-being of the inhabitants of the island is largely based on income from tourism; about 40 thousand tourists from all over the world visit the island every year.

Surikui Island

Suriqui (Spanish Isla Suriqui) is located in the Bolivian part of the lake. The island is considered last place where the art of making reed boats has been preserved. Craftsmen from Surikui took part in the construction of boats for the famous oceanographer, traveler Thor Heyerdahl, who in 1970 on a boat Ra-II, built by local craftsmen, successfully crossed Atlantic Ocean.

In his book about that expedition, Heyerdahl wrote: "Their knowledge in building large reed boats is so perfect that no shipbuilder, engineer or archaeologist can compete with them."

Amantani island

Amantani (Spanish Isla Amantani) is the most big Island the Peruvian part of the lake (its area is 9.28 km²), which has a round shape. Residents still speak the Quechua language. The island is famous for two sacred mountain peaks with ancient ruins, which are called "Father of the Earth" and "Mother of the Earth".

Suasi island

Suasi(Spanish Isla Suasi) - the only one private island in Peru. The island has a private ecological reserve and one hotel. The owner of the island (its area is about 43 hectares) and the organizer of the reserve is Martha Giraldo, who still lives on her islet, in a small house. Being an indigenous inhabitant of the area of Lake Titicaca, Marta Giraldo has long dreamed of creating a place where unique traditions, delightful nature, and unique ecological features of her native land would be concentrated. In 1996, she organized her own ecological reserve here. Martha islet inherited from my grandmother. Suasi is perfect for those seeking solitude, dreaming of the most complete merger with nature. Here you can go canoeing around the island, admire the lush nature, enjoy the birdsong, or just lie back and relax in a hammock.

Ruins of Tiwanaku

There are ruins not far from the lake ancient city Tiwanaku (Tiwanaku), which, according to many scholars, originally stood on the banks of the Titicaca. But now the ruins of the ancient city are located 20 km south of the lake. It turns out that since the construction of the city, either the water level in the lake has dropped significantly, or as a result of a natural cataclysm, the rocky foundation on which the city was built has risen strongly. According to scientists, the cult of Viracocha existed in Tiwanaku. According to Indian tradition, he was a light-skinned man with a white beard who wore long white robes. He was very kind, but people, incited by evil sorcerers, forced him to leave these lands and go to the East.

Few artifacts have survived from the ancient architects to the present day. The largest building in the city - mysterious pyramid Akapana has a height of 15 m and a base length of 152 m. The famous "Gate of the Sun" located in the Kalasasaya temple (from "kala" - stone and "saya" - standing, ie "Temple of standing stones") - the most famous archaeological site of the ancient city.

Sun gate

Not far from Tiwanaku, huge blocks weighing from 100 to 450 tons are scattered in disarray, as if scattered by a powerful explosion. The blocks, as if carved with a huge chisel, have an impeccably smooth surface. Our civilization has not yet reached such a high level of stone processing!

For centuries, there have been legends about settlements hidden under water. In 1980, a group led by Bolivian scientist and writer Huto Boero Rojo discovered the remains of an ancient city at the bottom of the lake in the northeastern part of the lake: a temple built of large stone blocks, stone roads, sculptures and stairs hidden in lush thickets of seaweed.

These ruins are believed to be from the pre-Incan period.

Curious facts

Titicaca: The Legend of Origin

Long ago, on the site of Lake Titicaca, there was a fertile valley inhabited by happy people who had everything in abundance. The carefree inhabitants of the valley knew no death, no anger, no envy.

The gods of the mountains, Apu, kept people from all misfortunes, and imposed only one strict prohibition on them: no one should climb to the top of the mountain, where the Sacred Fire burned.

People did not even think to break the taboo, but the Bes - an evil spirit doomed to eternal darkness, could not bear the sight of people living peacefully in the valley. The demon managed to sow discord between them, and in order to prove his courage, he invited people to get the Sacred Fire.

One day at dawn, the inhabitants of the valley began to climb Mountain peaks... Apu realized that the people had disobeyed them, and decided to destroy them all. Thousands of cougars ran out of the caves and attacked people. People shouted loudly, begging Bes for help, but he was indifferent to their pleas.

At the sight of this, the sun god - Inti cried, and his tears were so abundant that in 40 days they flooded the entire valley. Only two - a man and a woman - managed to escape in a reed boat. When the sun shone in the sky again, the couple could not believe their eyes: they were floating on a wide lake, the surface of which was strewn with drowned pumas, which then turned into stone statues. The people named the lake "Titicaca", which means "Lake of Stone Pumas".

Something like this!:)

Perhaps a vacation spent on the lake is not quite suitable for lovers of passive beach holiday and a carefree pastime. This is not the Maldives, people come here for unforgettable impressions, in order to touch the history, to the legendary ancient ruins and feel the spirit mysterious lake in the land of the sun god.

Thank you very much for each of your repost! Gracias!

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There are few such mysterious, ancient, beautiful, unique fresh water bodies in the world like Lake Titicaca!

It stretches a good 180 km between Peru and Bolivia, on the Altiplano plateau in the Andes.

Story

The name of the reservoir came to us from the depths of history, when the Spanish conquistadors reached these places. They gave this truly endless water space the name that has survived to this day.

In translation from the dialect of the Quechua Indians, the word "titicaca" means "stone puma". Indeed, from a height, the outlines of the lake resemble this graceful animal sacred to the Quechua tribes.

The water is fresh, but the depths are still home to marine fish, including sharks, and crustaceans. Fossilized remains of sea animals are still found on the shore. The lake water area is divided into two unequal parts, connected by the wide Tikin strait.

The water surface is covered with large and small islands, but only a small part of them is inhabited. Along with the usual islands, there are man-made floating islands made of reed - the habitat of the Uros Indians.

Lake Titicaca on the map

Location

Lake Titicaca is located almost in the center of the most high mountains South America, on the Altiplano plateau, at an altitude of 3,841m above sea level. The reservoir is surrounded by mountain peaks covered with eternal snow.

Two majestic mountains Bolivia - Ancohuma (6427m) and Illampu (6430m) - admire their reflection on the azure surface of the water. Most of the length of the coasts and islands belongs to Peru, the rest - to Bolivia. Of the big cities, it should be noted Puno in Peru and Tiwanaku, unique for its monuments, of the Inca civilization in Bolivia.

Highland climate

Summer on the shores of Titicaca lasts from November to February. During this period, during the day, the air temperature is rarely higher than +23 ° C. The high location relative to the sea and the proximity to snowy peaks do not allow the air to warm up properly.

Lake Titicaca. without words photo

At night, the thermometer drops by 7-10 divisions. The summer is the largest rainfall in these areas. Winter is characterized by dry, but colder nights, when the thermometer drops to almost zero. In the afternoon, the air in the lake area can warm up to +16.

The water in the reservoir is suitable only for swimming "walruses". Cold rivers and streams flowing from the surrounding glaciers do not allow the water temperature to rise above +14 ° C. The cold rarefied air of the Alpine belt allows you to admire the beauty of the bright blue surface surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks in sunny weather.

Titicacus whistler, vicuña and other inhabitants of these places

The Titicacus Whistler is a large frog that lives only in this lake. And the strangeness of this amphibian does not end there. To begin with, a creature called a whistler cannot whistle! But it can breathe underwater.

Titicacus Whistler photo

Like any frog, it does not have gills, and therefore in the process of evolution it was necessary to learn how to extract oxygen from water. And she does it with the help of numerous folds of skin. These folds allow the Titicacus whistler to be in its native element for a long time at a depth where the temperature hardly changes and there is a lot of food. On the surface, destructive ultraviolet rays, a harsh climate and the main enemy are waiting for him.

In addition to the aforementioned handsome man, other species of amphibians live in Lake Titicaca, but they are not so rare and interesting. The shores, densely overgrown with totora reeds and other water-loving plants, serve as a refuge for many species of birds. Some birds live here all the time, others come to rest and feed during periods of seasonal migrations.

chilean flamingo photos

Among more than 50 species, there are many beautiful and rare birds. Here are just a few of them:

Chocas marsh duck
Common night heron
Thin-billed Globe. It differs from the usual ibex with a red curved beak and dark purple plumage.
Andean swallow
Cormorant
Chilean flamingo. This bird is not afraid of great heights, feels good at low temperatures and thin air of high mountains.
Titicacus flightless grebe. It is found only in the vicinity of the lake and is on the verge of extinction.

Viskasha photo

Not every animal can withstand the special conditions of the highlands. Therefore, in the area of the lake there are very few representatives of the mammalian family. Among them:

Viskasha is a rodent that resembles a rabbit in its appearance
Andean fox
Wild guinea pig. Local Indian tribes eat them
Andean wolf
Andean skunk
Llamas and alpacas. These animals are bred and used instead of horses in the highlands, meat and alpaca skins also find their use.
Vicuña is a rare animal sacred to the ancient Indians. With the arrival of the Spaniards, it was almost completely exterminated. Vicuna meat was considered a delicacy, and the beautiful soft wool was used to make clothes for the nobles.

Dwellers of the Depth

lake trout photos

V coastal waters, for economic benefit, several species of trout have been launched from North America, carp, salmon. They have become so accustomed and accustomed to the highlands that they gradually displaced many other fish that lived at a depth from the very foundation of the lake.

Specifications

The area of the lake is 8,372 square kilometers. It is divided into two rather unequal parts by the strait. The smaller part is found mainly in Bolivia and is called Lago Pequeno (Small Lake). The depths in these places do not exceed 40 meters. The second part - Lago Grande (Big Lake) - is several times larger and the water column is an order of magnitude higher.

Average depth Big Lake is 140 meters, and in the deepest part the echo sounder shows 284 meters. Therefore, back in 1870, the first steamer was launched. It was made in England and transported in parts by mountain paths to the banks of Titicaca. Now Lake Titicaca is rightfully considered the highest mountainous navigable lake in the world.

What "eats" Titicaca

The water level in the lake is subject to seasonal fluctuations. From December to March, the water rises to the highest values. This is due to the fact that the bulk of the water comes from the glaciers that melt in the summer. About 25 large, hundreds of small rivers and streams raise the level of the lake. In winter, this flow dries up and the water level in Titicaca begins to drop.

The rivers

Only one river flows out of the lake - Desaguadero, but the bulk of the water that the reservoir loses evaporates under the harsh rays of the sun and is carried away by the strong winds prevailing on the plateau during these months. Previously, due to the strong drops in water level, there was a theory that the lake was gradually shallowing. But modern research confirmed the groundlessness of these fears.

sights

You can endlessly talk about the sights of these places. Thousands of tourists visit the lake to touch the secrets and legends: the most famous says that in the depths of the lake there is the Inca city of Wanaku. When the Spaniards invaded this region, the Incas hid their treasures in this city. But so far not a single researcher, including the famous scientist Jacques Yves Cousteau, has been able to confirm the veracity of these speculations.

In the depths of the lake, a temple was discovered, which is much ancient civilization Inca. Only here live the Uros Indians, who weave from totoro reeds not only their huts, boats and furniture. To escape the invasion of the Incas, their ancestors moved to floating islands from such reeds.

These islands sail on Titicaca to this day; The Incas believed that it was on the islands of Isla del Sol and Isla del Luna that the god Viracocha re-created the Sun and the Moon, and then a man and a woman. This is how our world was populated again after a global catastrophe.

In 2000, the Italians, exploring the bottom, discovered the remains of a stone road, a part of a wall and a hewn block that looked like a human head. These artifacts were created at least one and a half thousand years ago. Lake Titicaca has accumulated many secrets from its very birth to the present day. Someday they will be solved. But I really want the aura of mystery never to leave these picturesque places.

(56%) and (44%). The area of the lake is 8562 km², the maximum length is 204 km and the width is 65 km, the average depth is 107 meters, and the maximum is 281 m.

Titicaca is the largest mountain lake in the world in terms of fresh water reserves (water salinity is about 1 ‰), as well as the second largest lake in South America (after the Venezuelan Lake Maracaibo) and the world's tallest navigable lake.

The name "Titicaca" in translation from the language of the Quechua Indians consists of two words: kaka - rock and titi - puma (a sacred animal among the Quechua tribes).

More than 25 rivers flow into the lake, mostly flowing from the surrounding glaciers, and only one river Desaguadero flows out, flowing into the closed Bolivian Lake Poopo (Lago Poopo).

A wide variety of birds can be seen on Titicaca - ducks, Andean geese, Andean flamingos and many more. It is also home to many species of fish, including trout and giant frog species.

Along the shores of the lake and on numerous islands (there are 41 of them here) there are many settlements of the Quechua, Aymara and Uros peoples.

The largest city on the lake - located on its western shore, in the territory of Peru.

Lake Titicaca climate

Lake Titicaca has an alpine climate with cool temperatures for most of the year.

Winters are dry with low night and morning temperatures, while days are usually warm. Average daily temperature all year round is +16 .. + 18 ° C.

Average night temperature - in the winter months from May to September can drop to -3 ... -8 ° C, the rest of the time up to + 1 ... + 4 ° C.

The average water temperature in Lake Titicaca is from 10 to 14 ° C all year round, in the winter months (May-September) it is usually 10-11 ° C.

Last changes: 26.06.2012

On Titicaca there are more than 40 artificial islands Uros (Uros), woven from reeds and are one of the most striking attractions of the lake.

The construction of these reed islands is an important part of the Uros culture. Several hundred Uros Indians still spend their entire lives on these islands (up to 10 families simultaneously live on large islands). They fish, hunt birds, build reed houses, boats and the islands themselves, as well as make reed souvenirs every day and receive numerous tourists, on which they mainly live.

Each islet of Uros consists of numerous layers of reed, the lower layers are gradually washed away by the current, therefore the upper ones are constantly added.

The main means of communication between the islands and with the mainland are reed boats. They cook food on a fire set on flat stones.

The original purpose of life on the islands was primarily defensive, as they could be easily relocated in the event of a threat.

Some of the islands have solar panels that allow the Uros to watch TV and use some electrical appliances.

There is also a floating primary school, but for further education the children of the Uros have to visit the mainland, mainly the city of Puno.

Last changes: 26.06.2012

Archaeological finds of Lake Titicaca

In 2000, a stone terrace was discovered in Lake Titicaca at a depth of 30 meters, presumably an ancient pavement.

In addition, a wall about 1 km long was found and a sculpture carved out of stone in the form of a human head, reminiscent of similar stone sculptures of the ancient city of Tiwanaku, located in Bolivia, 18 km from the lake.

These archaeological finds are believed to be around 1,500 years old.

Last changes: 26.06.2012

How to get to Lake Titicaca

The largest settlements on the Peruvian part of Lake Titicaca are a city on the lake 385 km southeast of Cusco, and the city of Juliaca, located 27 km from the lake and 336 km from Cusco.

From Cusco, you can get to Puno by bus or train.

You can get from Cusco to Juliaca by bus or plane.

By plane

Inca Manco Cápac International Airport – international Airport located near the town of Juliaca.

High above the level of the World Ocean in the ring of snowy peaks of the Andes, this is where Titicaca is located, the most legendary and unique lake in South America. Any visitor to this continent will certainly want to see this miracle of nature with his own eyes. In the article, we will tell not only about Lake Titicaca: where it is located, what organisms live in it, but also dwell on the legends that hover around this wonderful place.

General facts

Titicaca is one of the largest freshwater bodies of water in South America. The lake, which has an area of 8300 square kilometers, is quite deep: there are sections up to 140 meters, and in some places the depth reaches all 280.

The water in the reservoir is cold: the highest rate is +12 degrees. This is due to the fact that the lake is fed by melt water from glaciers located on the tops of the mountains near the place where Titicaca is located. In total, 27 rivers flow into the reservoir, and 5 of them are very full-flowing. In addition, the water level is replenished by precipitation in the region.

An interesting fact is that, being abundantly filled, Titicaca is in no hurry to part with its waters: only one river flows out of the lake - Desaguadero. However, it also carries away up to 10 percent of the water; the rest 90 evaporate under the exhausting hot sun and dry winds.

As for the water level, it is stable: during the rainy season, Titicaca replenishes with water, and in the dry winter months it loses it. This balance allows the lake not to dry out (about this for a long time research scientists sounded the alarm).

Location geography

Where is Titicaca located? Where is it located in which country? It is impossible to answer unequivocally, because the reservoir belongs to two countries: Peru and Bolivia. The border between states runs exactly along coastline: western part - Peru, eastern - Bolivia.

Antiplano is the name of the plateau where Lake Titicaca is located. The place is not very calm because of the abundance of active volcanoes, the activity of which has formed a complex relief. It is characterized by the presence of closed basins, one of which eventually became Lake Titicaca.

Outwardly, the reservoir looks like two full-fledged lakes, but this is not so, because parts (Big and Small lakes) are connected by the 800-meter long Tikun Strait.

There are 41 islands on a large area of the reservoir. The largest, Isla del Sol, is quite populated, there are other islands where people live.

Origin

According to scientists, once Titicaca, where the largest supply of fresh water in South America is located, was part of the oceans. It was a sea bay, located almost 4 thousand meters lower than it is now. Gradually, under the influence of geological processes, together with the Andes, it rose to its present height. It is no secret that these mountains of South America are young, and therefore, they tend to "grow", rise up.

What allowed scientists to draw such conclusions? Firstly, the study of the animal world of the lake, and secondly, the traces of the surf, which were identified on the slopes, and the fossilized remains of animals - marine life. The whole process of raising the reservoir took place over 100 million years.

Climate

The area where Lake Titicaca is located is located very high above sea level. Alpine climatic zone passes here. This explains the climatic conditions: there is no sweltering heat in summer, and winters are not frosty.

Thus, the average summer temperature is 18-21 degrees, and the winter temperature is 14-16 degrees. Such indicators are due to where Lake Titicaca is located, on which continent and in which hemisphere. After all, here the summer period is December-February, and the winter period is June-August.

The water temperature is always the same: 10-14 degrees on the entire surface, but off the coast in winter time the lake sometimes even freezes.

However, the waters of Titicaca have attracted people since ancient times, because they have long noticed that the climate in the vicinity of the lake is milder than on the continent. Titicaca is a kind of buffer that makes the harsh weather conditions of the cold desert more comfortable.

Animal world

The area where Titicaca is located is a real abode of birds, both permanently living and migrating. More than sixty species live here, and there are those that are on the verge of extinction. For example, here you can find the almost extinct Titicacus flightless toadstool or the thin-billed ibex. Chilean flamingos, Andean swallows and countless species of ducks found their home here.

The most famous amphibian inhabitant can be safely called a unique frog that is able to breathe under water. This is the Titicacus whistler. He lives in swampy areas, hiding among stones or reeds. The animal very rarely comes ashore. It is a great success to watch him. In addition to the whistler, Titicaca is home to another 18 species of amphibians.

Mammals are poorly represented - the rather harsh climate and an altitude of almost 4 thousand meters above sea level affected. There are llamas, the Andean fox, a wolf and a skunk, a wild guinea pig and an amazing animal called Viskasha - a rodent very similar to a rabbit.

As for the fish species, many that existed here have become extinct or become very rare. The fact is that in the 30s-40s of the XX century, people decided to improve the fisheries in the lake by launching non-native fish species. As a result, they took root, displacing the old-timers. Trout felt especially good here.

Reed islands

The area where Titicaca is located is inhabited by numerous tribes, including the unique Uru. They live on islands that they themselves weave from ordinary reeds.

It would seem a very fragile design. However, its thickness of 13 meters can withstand people and their structures, by the way, made of the same reed. It grows abundantly on the shores of the lake, which is why it became the material for creating such unusual islands. Uru have been making them by hand for many centuries.

Why do the Indians need such structures, because Titicaca is very rich in natural islands? The answer is simple: Uru is motivated by the fact that at the slightest danger they can sail away to another place.

It is noteworthy that this tribe has a special awe for reed: it is used not only for equipping dwellings, but also for eating, and making clothes from it.

Mythology

The place where Lake Titicaca is located is very mysterious. In which country did the Inca civilization originate? Right here. And the lake was the center of the universe - that's what the ancient tribes thought.

After a large-scale catastrophe, akin to the Great Flood of the Bible, the supreme god Viracocha arose from the depths of Titicaca. He stopped the complete disappearance of the planet. For a long time Viracocha wandered among the Amantani islands until he chose two of them. They were Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna. On the first, he ordered the Sun to rise, on the second - the Moon. And then, on the top of Mount Tiwanaku, he created people. It is noteworthy that the locals still idolize these places. The islands located in the middle of the lake are home to ancient sanctuaries that have attracted pilgrims for centuries.

Archaeologists have unequivocally proven that many sanctuaries existed before the Inca civilization. The latter simply adopted the structures for their similar cults. The predecessor of the Incas was the Tiwanaku civilization, which disappeared from the annals of history in 1200 AD.

Island of the Sun

Isla del Sol, or Island of the Sun, is one of the iconic islands of Lake Titicaca. Where is? Which country: Peru or Bolivia? It belongs to the latter. According to legend, it was on Isla del Sol that the founders of the Inca civilization, Manco Capac and his wife, were born.

The island is hilly and rocky throughout the territory, there are no roads or cars. The entire population of five thousand lives in fishing and tourism.

Indeed, there are over eighty sites on Isla del Sol ancient architecture Inca. Let's analyze the main places of pilgrimage for tourists. Their interest in the place where Lake Titicaca is located, the photo of which is presented in the article, does not wane.

The ruins of Chinkana are a building where the school of the Inca cult was once located; an ancient memorial stone was installed on their territory, from which, according to legend, the Inca civilization originated.

The steps leading to Yumani Village are another attraction. According to legend, through them lies the path to the sources of eternal youth.

Pilko Kayna is a very interesting building. Archaeologists believe that girls from the island of Isla de la Luna were kept here in order to protect them from encroachments.
The literal translation is "the place where birds sleep." Outwardly, it very much resembles a kind of bastion.

general information

Titicaca is located between two mountain ranges of the Andes in the northern part of the Altiplano on the border of Peru and Bolivia. The western part of the lake is located in the Puno region, Peru, the eastern side is located in the department of La Paz, Bolivia. The snow-covered Cordillera Real with a height of more than 6400 meters on the northeastern (Bolivian) shore of the lake is one of the most high peaks Andes.

The lake consists of two, almost separate basins, connected by the 800 m wide Tikuin Strait at its narrowest point. The average depth of the large basin is 135 m, the maximum is 284 m.The average depth of the small basin is 9 m, the maximum is 40 m.In general, the average depth of the lake is 107 meters, but the bottom slopes sharply towards the eastern coast of Bolivia, reaching a maximum depth of 284 meters near the island of Soto.

Titicaca has 41 islands, some of which are densely populated. The largest of these, Isla del Sol, is located near Copacabana, Bolivia.

Lake Titicaca water comes from a combination of precipitation and melt water. Glaciers in the mountains and throughout the alpine plateau feed about 27 rivers (five of which are large), which then flow into the lake. The Ramis River is the largest of all. Flowing into the northwestern part of the lake, it accounts for about 2/5 of the water in the entire Titicaca basin.

Titicaca is practically an enclosed lake. Many rivers flow into it, but only the small river Desaguadero serves as the only water drain. Desaguadero drains about 10% of the water and then flows into Lake Poopo. The remaining 90% of the water is lost during evaporation under the hot sun and strong dry winds of the Altiplano.

Titicaca's level fluctuates seasonally throughout the year. During the rainy season (summer, December to March) the level of the lake rises and drops during the dry winter months. Previously, it was believed that Titicaca slowly dries up, but modern research refutes this statement: the cycle of rise and fall of water is more or less stable.

Name

The lake got its name - Titicaca - from the Spaniards. It consists of two words: "titi" (puma) and "kaka" (rock), which in translation from the language of the Quechua Indians means "mountain puma". The Aymara and Quechua peoples called the reservoir "Mamakota". Even earlier, before the appearance of these peoples in the local lands, the reservoir was called "Lake Pukina", i.e. located on the territory of the country of the people of Pukin, which has now ceased to exist.

Ecology

With only 10% of the water flow, Titicaca is actually a closed lake. Millions of cubic meters of sewage are discharged into the lake every year. Waste discharged by industrial enterprises decomposes in the water, forming methane, which poses a significant threat to the lake's ecosystem. If urgent action is not taken to protect the environment, Peru and Bolivia may simply lose some of their unique treasures.