Andean Explorations – 13: Floating islands of Uros
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Floating islands
The Uros is the name of a tribe of pre-Incan people who live on 42 self-fashioned floating man-made islets located in Lake Titicaca off Puno, Peru. The Uros use the Totora plant to make boats of bundled dried reeds as well as to make the islands themselves. Around 3,000 descendants of the Uros are alive today, although only a few hundred still live on and maintain the islands; most have moved to the mainland. More on Wikipedia.
All boats have faces of deities that keep away evil forces.
After a day of relaxation and minor hiking around the hills of Puno (blogged over a month back!), I set out on a two day excursion to lake Titicaca. It was with a tourist group and they made arrangements for overnight stay in a village in one of the islands (next post).
It was almost unbelievable to see habitable islands made from reeds. When you walk on these islands, you can feel the softness of the reeds. It is slightly wobbly at some places and the villagers ask us not to stand at the same spot for over a minute or it might be risky.
Villagers selling souvenirs
The purpose of the island settlements was originally defensive, and if a threat arose they could be moved. The largest island retains a watchtower almost entirely constructed of reeds.
The Uros traded with the Aymara tribe on the mainland, interbreeding with them and eventually abandoning the Uro language for that of the Aymara. About 500 years ago they lost their original language. When this pre-Incan civilization was conquered by the Incans, they had to pay taxes to them, and often were made slaves.
A large island with a number of houses and a watch tower
The Uros do not reject modern technology: some boats have motors, some houses have solar panels to run appliances such as TV, and the main island is home to an Uros-run FM radio station. Just as our school buses, we saw some school boats !!
Traditionally dressed woman
How wonderful the world is, who knew that people could live on islands made of grass!
For the complete photo set, slideshow and comments, please see my Uros islands Photo Gallery
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Dude,
↵You are my eyes around the world. Please keep travelling.
awesome post..loved the pictures, especially the last one
↵WMWC:
Let your pictures coming too!
↵Thanks man
Lakshmi:
Thats a traditional dress of Uros people, and if you notice, it looks very similar to the Inca / Quechuan dress. But I am told there is a subtle difference in the stripes and color shades (I could never tell!)
↵Thanks
vowww it must be so cool, like living on a cruise
↵I had heard of this floating island, never knew one day I’ll read a recount of someone who visited the place.
Must be a thrilling experience.
↵Maverick:
↵Yeah! And a very wobbly one:)
Cuckoo:
↵hahaha, thats sweet of you to say. Thanks
How wonderful the world is, and how interesting your post is!
↵Celine:
↵hehe, thanks
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