Reed Islands (Click on Picture for More)
From Puno we took a tour of the Reed Islands. In the 1500's a group of people began building their own islands in Lake Titicaca, supposedly to avoid the spanish invaders. These islands are anywhere from 3 to 9 feet thick and made basically of stacks of reed mats. The bottom slowly rots and as it does the villagers add more mats on top. The islands are anchored to the bottom with cords but the cords can be cut and the islands moved by boat if necessary. The people live here but many of the men travel to Puno to work during the day. Many of the men also fish for a living. There are many islands and only 3 or 4 of them are open to tourist visits. The rest maintain a private, traditional lifestyle.
Front Page
Front Page
(Click to enlarge)
ReedIslandsOverview
The reed homes are small, about 8 by 12 inside.(Click to enlarge)
ReedIslandVenderAndHome
The reed homes are small, about 8 by 12 inside.
These are the traditional boats used to move from island to island. The boat is made of reeds and rots away with a year or so.(Click to enlarge)
ReedIslandRower
These are the traditional boats used to move from island to island. The boat is made of reeds and rots away with a year or so.
The schoolhouse on a central island(Click to enlarge)
ReedIslandSchoolHouse
The schoolhouse on a central island
Many of the villagers have recently acquired solar panels. We visited one hut and the owner was very proud of her battery power boom box and small black and white tv.(Click to enlarge)
ReedIslandSolarPanel
Many of the villagers have recently acquired solar panels. We visited one hut and the owner was very proud of her battery power boom box and small black and white tv.
(Click to enlarge)
MoreReedIslands