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Locate in Lake Titicaca - 5 km / 3 miles west of the Puno
harbor (20 minutes by boat)
The Uros Islands (3,810 m.a.s.l. / 12.497
f.a.s.l.) number around 20 and are located
in the Bay of Puno. Three to ten
Uro - Aymaras families live on each one.
They roof their houses with totora reed
carpets, although some families have
replaced their traditional roofs by
metal ones. The largest Islands are
Tupiri, Santa María, Tribuna, Toranipata,
Chumi, Paraiso, Kapi, Titino, Tinajero,
and Negrone.
The Uros call themselves Kotsuña, “the
lake people”, and their origins go back
to eras before the Incas. They hunt wild
birds and maintain traditional fishing
methods, especially those used for the
carachi and the silverfish. The men are
skillful handlers of the totora reed
boats, and the women are expert
knitters.
The characteristic cold and dry weather
of the region is tempered in this area
thanks to the constantly evaporating
water of the large lake. (PromPeru) |