Floating Islands

We rode in a boat along a canal surrounded by the reeds that the island people use to create their floating homes.  Titicaca is pronounced ‘Tee tee ha ha’ and means Great Puma in Quechuan.  The lake is 60% in Peru and 40% in Bolivia.  The name comes from it shape which resembles a leaping puma.

There are over 100 floating islands made from the Papara reeds and their root balls.  Each Island is 5 to 8 meters thick and floats over 40 feet of water.  We stepped onto one island which was very spongy feeling and checked out their homes.  Lunch was on a large island in the middle of the lake and took about a hour and a half long boat ride.  This island is 5 miles long and 3 miles wide and is home to 4,000 people.