Lake Titicaca

At the crossroads of the mighty Andes and Peru's windswept altiplano grasslands, fertile Lake Titicaca was a cradle for Peru's ancient Civilization. Lake Titicaca is known by the name of Lago Sagrado (Sacred Lake) among the Aymaras and constitutes the central element of Inca mythology. Its principal tributaries are located in Peruvian territory: Ramis and Huancane to the north , Coata and Illpa to the west, and Llave and Zapatilla to the southwest.

It is a region of mystery and legend. Originally inhabited by the Urus, a race today extinct, it was dominated successively by Aymara warlords, Quechuas of the Inca Empire and Spanish conquerors. Along its banks flourished the Tihuanacu culture (1500 AC) that left behind immense megalithic constructions and complex agricultural systems redolent of an advanced civilization. Before it mysteriously disappeared. Its art, culture and religion had spread throughout the entire Andean region.

At 14 degrees south, the Andean ridge is divided in two branches: the eastern and western ridges. Between them is a closed hydrological system of approximately 140,000 sq. Km located between 3,600m and 4500m above sea level. Within that system lie four major basins Lake Titicaca, Desaguadero River, Lake Poopo and Coipasa Salt lake. Desaguadero River is the only outlet and flows into Lake Poopo, the overflow from which in turn gives rise to Coipasa Salt Lake. These four basins from the TDPS system of which the main element, Lake Titicaca, the largest in South America, the highest navigable lake in the world, and according to Inca cosmology the origin of human life.

The lake never freezes , but temperature do reach freezing nearby on many nights of the year. It is never hot. The view from island's ridge is as sensational as any in the world. The west side of the ridge sits the mysterious Temple of the Sun, supposedly the origin of the Incas. This lake having more than 40 artificial islands and attracts visitors all around the world. Uros,Isla Del Sol,Taquile and Amantaní are the major attractions.a small number of people from the Uros tribe still live a very basic.The Bolivian military uses Titicaca to carry out naval exercises, maintaining an active navy despite being landlocked.

Buses from La Paz to Copacabana leave from the Cementerio District, not from main terminal. The luxury hotels Inca Utama and La Posada del Inca are located here. Plenty of travelers continue on to Bolivia, which shares Lake Titicaca with Peru, from Puno: several travel agencies in Puno sell travel packages and sell bus tickets. The most common and scenic route is from Puno to La Pax via Yunguyo and Copacabana.