Hundreds of years ago, upon arriving at Lake Titicaca, the Uros people built dozens of artificial islands to defend themselves against the Incas, many of which still exist today.
The Uros people live on artificial islands in Lake Titicaca. Photo: Gail Johnson
Lake Titicaca is a freshwater lake in the Andes on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It is the largest lake in South America. At about 3,810 meters above sea level, Titicaca is also one of the highest lakes in the world, IFL Science reported on July 11.
Scattered along the western corner of the lake, near the city of Puno, Peru, are dozens of artificial islands, each with a few cottages and other structures. Some are just 30 meters wide, others are much larger.
The ancients created floating islands by stacking layers of totora roots and sewn reeds, according to BBC Earth . The totora plants were essential to life on the lake. Their strong rhizomes were used for houses, boats, roofs, mattresses, and even as tea, traditional medicine, and food.
These strange floating islands originated in the pre-Columbian period, when the Inca Empire (which lasted from the 15th to the 16th centuries) began to invade the mainland villages of the Uros people. They migrated to Lake Titicaca and built a series of floating islands. If the Incas came to attack, they could push these artificial islands out into the middle of the lake and escape.
The threat from the Inca Empire has long passed, but the tradition lives on. Today, an estimated 1,300 people live on the chain of artificial islands on Lake Titicaca. Estimates of the number of islands vary, but most believe there are between 60 and 120.
Maintaining the lifestyle on the artificial islands is not easy. Totora is durable and valuable, but the organic material degrades over time due to the elements, meaning the islands and their homes will always need repair. However, the traditional way of life is also combined with modern technology. Many islands are now equipped with solar panels to provide electricity for lights, radios and satellite television.
Thu Thao (According to IFL Science )
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