Difference between revisions of "Lake Titicaca" - New World Encyclopedia
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{{Infobox_lake | {{Infobox_lake | ||
|lake_name = Lake Titicaca | |lake_name = Lake Titicaca | ||
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| − | '''Lake Titicaca''' is the highest commercially navigable lake in the world,<ref>[http://www.highestlake.com/highest-lake-world.html The Highest Lake in the World] Carl Drews, 13 September 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2006.</ref> at 3,812 | + | '''Lake Titicaca''' is the highest commercially navigable lake in the world,<ref>[http://www.highestlake.com/highest-lake-world.html The Highest Lake in the World] Carl Drews, 13 September 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2006.</ref> at 3,812 m (12,507 feet) above sea level. Located in the [[Altiplano]] high in the [[Andes]] on the border of [[Peru]] and [[Bolivia]], at 16°S 69°W, Titicaca has an average depth of 107 m,<ref>[http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/sam/dsam04.html Data Summary: Lago Titicaca (Lake Titicaca)] www.ilec.or.jp, International Lake Environment Committee Foundation - ILEC. Retrieved 2 December 2006. </ref> and a maximum depth of 281 m. The western part of the lake belongs to the Puno Region of Peru, and the eastern side is located in the Bolivian La Paz Department. |
| − | More than | + | More than twenty-five [[river]]s empty into Titicaca, and the lake has forty-one [[island]]s, some of which are densely populated. |
| − | Titicaca is fed by | + | Titicaca is fed by [[rain]]fall and meltwater from [[glacier]]s on the sierras that abut the Altiplano. It is drained by the Desaguadero River, which flows south through [[Bolivia]] to Lake Poopó. This accounts for less than 5 percent of the lake's [[water]] loss, however, the rest is caused by [[evaporation]] as a result of the strong winds and sunlight at this altitude. |
== Islands == | == Islands == | ||
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===Uros=== | ===Uros=== | ||
| − | [[Image:Iles Flottantes Titicaca (pixinn.net).jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[Uros]] people harvesting some | + | [[Image:Iles Flottantes Titicaca (pixinn.net).jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[Uros]] people harvesting some totora, an aquatic plant used to make their famous floating islands]] |
| − | Titicaca is notable for a population of people who live on the | + | Titicaca is notable for a population of people who live on the Uros, a group of about 43 artificial [[island]]s made of floating [[reed]]s. Their original purpose was defensive, and they could be moved if a threat arose. One of the islands retains a watchtower largely constructed of reeds. These islands have become a major tourist attraction for [[Peru]], drawing excursions from the lakeside city of Puno. |
| − | |||
===Amantaní=== | ===Amantaní=== | ||
| − | [[Image:Uros island.jpg|thumb| | + | [[Image:Uros island.jpg|thumb|Uros artificial islands, in Peru]] |
| − | [[Image:Intikawan Amantani.jpg|thumb|One of the islands from Lake Titicaca: | + | [[Image:Intikawan Amantani.jpg|thumb|One of the islands from Lake Titicaca: Amantaní in the distance as seen from Taquile]] |
| − | + | Amantaní is another small island in Lake Titicaca populated by [[Quechua]] speakers. About eight hundred families live in six villages on the basically circular 15-square-kilometer island. There are two mountain peaks, called Pachatata (Father Earth) and Pachamama (Mother Earth), and ancient ruins on the top of both peaks. The hillsides that rise up from the lake are terraced and planted with [[wheat]], [[potato]]es, and [[vegetable]]s. Most of the small fields are worked by hand. Long stone fences divide the fields, and [[cattle]], [[sheep]], and [[alpaca]]s graze on the hillsides. | |
| − | There are no | + | There are no [[automobile|car]]s on the island, and no hotels. A few small stores sell basic goods, and there is a health clinic and school. [[Electricity]] is produced by a generator and limited to a couple of hours each day. |
| − | Some of the families on Amantaní open their homes to tourists for overnight stays and provide cooked meals, arranged through tour guides. The families who do so are required to have a special room set aside for the tourists and must fit a code by the tour companies that help them. Guests typically take food staples (cooking oil, rice, sugar) as a gift or school supplies for the children on the island. They hold nightly traditional dance shows for the tourists | + | Some of the families on Amantaní open their homes to tourists for overnight stays and provide cooked meals, arranged through tour guides. The families who do so are required to have a special room set aside for the tourists and must fit a code by the tour companies that help them. Guests typically take food staples (cooking oil, rice, sugar) as a gift or school supplies for the children on the island. They hold nightly traditional dance shows for the tourists and offer to dress them up in their traditional clothes and participate. |
===Isla del Sol=== | ===Isla del Sol=== | ||
| − | Situated on the | + | Situated on the [[Bolivia]]n side of the [[lake]] with regular boat links to the Bolivian town of Copacabana, Isla del Sol ("Island of the Sun") is one of the lake's largest islands. In [[Inca Civilization|Inca]] [[mythology]] it figured as the place of their origin, and several important Inca ruins exist on the island. Its economy is mainly driven by [[tourism]] revenues, but subsistence [[agriculture]] and [[fishing]] are widely practiced. |
| + | |||
| + | An underwater [[archaeology|archaeological]] research project was undertaken off the Island of the Sun during 1989-1992. Rare Inca and Tiahuanaco artifacts were recovered, which are currently on display in a site museum in Challapampa.<ref>Reinhard, Johan "Underwater Archaeological Research in Lake Titicaca, Bolivia" in ''Ancient America: Contributions to New World Archaeology'', 1992. N. Saunders (ed.), Oxford: Oxbow Books, pp. 117-143</ref> | ||
== Name == | == Name == | ||
[[Image:Copacabana.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Copacabana, Bolivia]] | [[Image:Copacabana.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Copacabana, Bolivia]] | ||
| − | The origin of the name Titicaca is unknown. It has been translated as "Rock Puma," allegedly because of its resemblance to the shape of a puma hunting a rabbit, combining words from the local languages [[ | + | The origin of the name Titicaca is unknown. It has been translated as "Rock Puma," allegedly because of its resemblance to the shape of a puma hunting a [[rabbit]], combining words from the local languages [[Quechua]] and [[Aymara]], and as well as translated as "Crag of Lead." Locally, the lake goes by several names. Because the southeast quarter of the lake is separate from the main body (connected only by the Strait of Tiquina), the [[Bolivia]]ns call it ''Lago Huiñaymarca'' and the larger part ''Lago Chucuito.'' In [[Peru]], these smaller and larger parts are referred to as ''Lago Pequeño'' and ''Lago Grande'', respectively. |
== Other notable facts== | == Other notable facts== | ||
| − | The | + | The Bolivian Naval Force uses the lake to carry out naval exercises, maintaining an active navy despite being landlocked. |
| − | The partly-salt [[Lake Maracaibo]] in [[Venezuela]] is the only body of water in South America bigger than Titicaca, at about 13,000 square | + | The partly-salt [[Lake Maracaibo]] in [[Venezuela]] is the only body of water in South America bigger than Titicaca, at about 13,000 square kilometers, but some say it should be classified as a sea because it is connected to the ocean. |
| − | Anthropologist | + | Anthropologist Hermann Baumann documented male-to-female [[transsexual]] priestesses among original villagers living along Lake Titicaca.<ref>Feinberg, Leslie: Transgender Warriors, page 40. Beacon Press, 1996.</ref> |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 03:19, 13 December 2007
| Lake Titicaca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | |
| Lake type | Mountain Lake |
| Primary sources | 27 rivers |
| Primary outflows | Desaguadero River Evaporation |
| Catchment area | 58,000 km² |
| Basin countries | Peru Bolivia |
| Max length | 190 km |
| Max width | 80 km |
| Surface area | 8,372 km² |
| Average depth | 107m |
| Max depth | 281m |
| Water volume | 893 km³ |
| Shore length1 | 1,125 km |
| Surface elevation | 3,812 m |
| Islands | 42+ islands See Article |
| Settlements | Puno, Peru Copacabana, Bolivia |
| 1 Shore length is an imprecise measure which may not be standardized for this article. | |
Lake Titicaca is the highest commercially navigable lake in the world,[1] at 3,812 m (12,507 feet) above sea level. Located in the Altiplano high in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia, at 16°S 69°W, Titicaca has an average depth of 107 m,[2] and a maximum depth of 281 m. The western part of the lake belongs to the Puno Region of Peru, and the eastern side is located in the Bolivian La Paz Department.
More than twenty-five rivers empty into Titicaca, and the lake has forty-one islands, some of which are densely populated.
Titicaca is fed by rainfall and meltwater from glaciers on the sierras that abut the Altiplano. It is drained by the Desaguadero River, which flows south through Bolivia to Lake Poopó. This accounts for less than 5 percent of the lake's water loss, however, the rest is caused by evaporation as a result of the strong winds and sunlight at this altitude.
Islands
Uros
.jpg)
Titicaca is notable for a population of people who live on the Uros, a group of about 43 artificial islands made of floating reeds. Their original purpose was defensive, and they could be moved if a threat arose. One of the islands retains a watchtower largely constructed of reeds. These islands have become a major tourist attraction for Peru, drawing excursions from the lakeside city of Puno.
Amantaní
Amantaní is another small island in Lake Titicaca populated by Quechua speakers. About eight hundred families live in six villages on the basically circular 15-square-kilometer island. There are two mountain peaks, called Pachatata (Father Earth) and Pachamama (Mother Earth), and ancient ruins on the top of both peaks. The hillsides that rise up from the lake are terraced and planted with wheat, potatoes, and vegetables. Most of the small fields are worked by hand. Long stone fences divide the fields, and cattle, sheep, and alpacas graze on the hillsides.
There are no cars on the island, and no hotels. A few small stores sell basic goods, and there is a health clinic and school. Electricity is produced by a generator and limited to a couple of hours each day.
Some of the families on Amantaní open their homes to tourists for overnight stays and provide cooked meals, arranged through tour guides. The families who do so are required to have a special room set aside for the tourists and must fit a code by the tour companies that help them. Guests typically take food staples (cooking oil, rice, sugar) as a gift or school supplies for the children on the island. They hold nightly traditional dance shows for the tourists and offer to dress them up in their traditional clothes and participate.
Isla del Sol
Situated on the Bolivian side of the lake with regular boat links to the Bolivian town of Copacabana, Isla del Sol ("Island of the Sun") is one of the lake's largest islands. In Inca mythology it figured as the place of their origin, and several important Inca ruins exist on the island. Its economy is mainly driven by tourism revenues, but subsistence agriculture and fishing are widely practiced.
An underwater archaeological research project was undertaken off the Island of the Sun during 1989-1992. Rare Inca and Tiahuanaco artifacts were recovered, which are currently on display in a site museum in Challapampa.[3]
Name
The origin of the name Titicaca is unknown. It has been translated as "Rock Puma," allegedly because of its resemblance to the shape of a puma hunting a rabbit, combining words from the local languages Quechua and Aymara, and as well as translated as "Crag of Lead." Locally, the lake goes by several names. Because the southeast quarter of the lake is separate from the main body (connected only by the Strait of Tiquina), the Bolivians call it Lago Huiñaymarca and the larger part Lago Chucuito. In Peru, these smaller and larger parts are referred to as Lago Pequeño and Lago Grande, respectively.
Other notable facts
The Bolivian Naval Force uses the lake to carry out naval exercises, maintaining an active navy despite being landlocked.
The partly-salt Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is the only body of water in South America bigger than Titicaca, at about 13,000 square kilometers, but some say it should be classified as a sea because it is connected to the ocean.
Anthropologist Hermann Baumann documented male-to-female transsexual priestesses among original villagers living along Lake Titicaca.[4]
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ The Highest Lake in the World Carl Drews, 13 September 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
- ↑ Data Summary: Lago Titicaca (Lake Titicaca) www.ilec.or.jp, International Lake Environment Committee Foundation - ILEC. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
- ↑ Reinhard, Johan "Underwater Archaeological Research in Lake Titicaca, Bolivia" in Ancient America: Contributions to New World Archaeology, 1992. N. Saunders (ed.), Oxford: Oxbow Books, pp. 117-143
- ↑ Feinberg, Leslie: Transgender Warriors, page 40. Beacon Press, 1996.
External links
- World lake database entry for Lake Titicaca
- Bolivian Navy and Naval Ensign
- Lake Titicaca - The Highest Navigable Lake in the World Information about the floating islands and Isla del Sol
- Ancient Temple found under the waters of Lake Titicaca
- Management issues in the Lake Titicaca and Lake Poopo system: Importance of developing a water budget
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