Manasi Chakrabarti ( Bandyopadhyay)
Five major rivers - Ramis, Coata, Ilave, Huancané, and Suchez aong with some other smaller streams ends their journey in Titicaca.
This lake has floating islands some of which are the dwelling place of Uros. This ancient tribe is divided in three main groups-- Uro -Iruitos, Uro -Chipayas, Uro-Muratos .
In pre Inca period, Uros used to make their livelihood by cultivating their own land. But Inca kingdom expanded over their land driving them to the floating islands of Titicaca. Generation after generation has passed, Uros have been living in these islands in the shadow of the Andes making their living from fishing and selling handicrafts made out of reeds.
Floating islands are very interesting. They are made of four to eight feet thick totora reeds by the Uros and these islands can be moved as and when required. Soft and occasionally spongy reeds are being added to the surface after a certain period .
Islands are dwelling places for two to ten families depending on their size . The biggest island has a watch tower and tiny outhouse islands had been created to work as an absorber of waste.
Totora reeds are used not only for making islands but for many other things like making home, furniture , fishing boats ; as food and medicine.
In pre Inca period, Uros used to make their livelihood by cultivating their own land. But Inca kingdom expanded over their land driving them to the floating islands of Titicaca. Generation after generation has passed, Uros have been living in these islands in the shadow of the Andes making their living from fishing and selling handicrafts made out of reeds.
Floating islands are very interesting. They are made of four to eight feet thick totora reeds by the Uros and these islands can be moved as and when required. Soft and occasionally spongy reeds are being added to the surface after a certain period .
Islands are dwelling places for two to ten families depending on their size . The biggest island has a watch tower and tiny outhouse islands had been created to work as an absorber of waste.
Totora reeds are used not only for making islands but for many other things like making home, furniture , fishing boats ; as food and medicine.
Boats are canoe-shaped with animal head at the prow. These are used for fishing and taking visitors to their island.
Uros are not adverse to modernizaion. They had radio station, motor boat, solar panels and some other modern amunities .
From Puno,
there are some tours that will take you to Titicaca and Uros floating villages. Puno is a hillside beautiful port city on the shore of Titicaca which itself can give you the flavour of ancient Peru.
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