Day 45-46, Peru: Lake Titicaca & origins of Incas

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  Amantani, Puno, Peru
Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It sits 3,812 m (12,500 ft) above sea level, making it one of the highest commercially navigable lakes in the world. By volume of water, it is also the largest lake in South America.
According to Incan mythology, Manco Capac and Mama 0cllo, also known as Mama Huaca, emerged from the depths of Lake Titicacaon the sacred rock gate on Isla Del Sol to found the Inca Empire. The entire lake was a holy place.
According to legend, when the Spanish forces reached Cuzco, the Incas took the two-ton gold chain of Inca Huascar from the temple at Koricancha and threw it into the lake. It has never been found although some years ago Jacques Cousteau mounted an expedition to explore the lake with a mini-submarine.
I visted 3 islands in Lake Titicaca: Uros, Amantani & Taquile. People living in these islands have still kept their customs and traditions. I slept at a local family house in Amantani. Very nice lady who prepared local food (quinoa soup and potatoes) and who lent me local clothes to attend the fiesta in the island! The island is pollution-free and it has been so long since I saw a sky with so many stars! But that night was very cold and I had to sleep again with a couple of blankets.

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Uros Islands   Comments!	Uros Islands	Uros Islands	Uros Islands
Uros Islands	Uros Islands	Uros Islands	Uros Islands
Uros Islands	Uros Islands	Uros Islands	Uros Islands   Comments!
Uros Islands   Comments!	Titicaca Lake	Titicaca Lake	Titicaca Lake
Titicaca Lake	Titicaca Lake	View from Pachamama temple on Tequile Island	Titicaca Lake
View from Titicaca Lake on Bolivian mountains	Amantani Island	Our lunch in Amantani Island	View from Pachamama temple in Amantani Island
Sunset from Pachamama temple in Amantani Island	Sunset from Pachamama temple in Amantani Island   Comments!	View from Pachamama temple in Amantani Island	Sunset from Pachamama temple in Amantani Island
Near Pachamama temple in Amantani Island	Sunset from Pachamama temple in Amantani Island	View from Pachamama temple in Amantani Island	Near Pachamama temple in Amantani Island
In Amantani Island	In Amantani Island	In Amantani Island	Sunset from Pachamama temple in Amantani Island
Near Pachamama temple	Sunset from Pachamama temple in Amantani Island	Sunset from Pachamama temple in Amantani Island	Sunset from Pachamama temple in Amantani Island
Fiesta in Amantani Island	In Amantani Island	Sunrise in Amantani Island	In Taquile Island
View from Taquile Island	In Taquile Island	In Taquile Island	Me in Taquile Island

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