There is the place, right on the surface of world's highest navigable lake at almost 4000m above the sea level, where people use what Mother Earth gives there in abundance, turn it into a building material, use it for healing purposes and consume it on daily basis. That’s Totora power.

TOTORA

elevation

3812m

Lake Titicaca is a freshwater lake (the second largest in South America) located in the Andes, right on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It is believed to be a place of origin of Inca imperium and pre-Inca civilizations such as Tiwanaku Empire. Geologically, it's a home of 500 aquatic species and most importantly one particular plant which brings more than food and home to its people.

up to

height

totora reeds

Totora (quechua language) is a subspecies of the giant bulrush sedge. The plant is found wildly in fresh waters of Lake Titicaca and across Eastern Island.

Totora green roots
are eaten as being rich source of iodine, used for pain relief, tea and to cure a hangover

Totora reeds once pulled from the lake, are left to dry out (so they can float), and then combined with ropes, reeds are layered down creating a floating layer of flooring.

floating

The Uro community due to local population’s opression and hostality decided to hide among high totora on their fisherboats away from the shore. The way of life they found there brought peace of mind and in any case of danger - ability to just float further away.

It takes 18 months to build a floating island. The layers made from dried Totora reeds are woven together, however over time the bottom layers rot from water therefore the ongoing maintenance is a daily task for island’s owners. The well maintained island can last up to thirty years. The houses located on islands as well as boats that Uro people use are also made of Totora reeds. Each half a year they have to move their houses in order to layer down new reeds of the floating island.

UROS
FLOATING
ISLANDS

floating

uro people

MEET URO PEOPLE

The Uro people pre-dates the Incan civilization and they have preserved most of their unique way of living to this day. They perceive themselves as owners of the lake and water and claim to have black blood and not to feel the cold. The Uro people sustain themselves mostly with totora reeds in terms of diet while fishing and bird-hunting. Nowadays they depend heavily on tourists who visit the islands to learn about their lifestyle.