Lake Titicaca is famous around the world as being the world?s highest navigable lake, at over 3,800m above sea level. There are many other lakes in the world higher than this, including several in Peru, although Lake Titicaca is probably the highest with regular boat services. The lake itself is immense, with an area of over 8,000 square kilometres, and if it were not for the fact that it is almost four kilometres high, it could almost be mistaken for the ocean.
The Lake has become one of Peru?s main tourist destinations, and taking a boat ride on this incredible body of water offers splendid views of the snow-capped Cordillera Real rising over the deep blue waters. The islands on the lake, as well as being very beautiful, provide a wonderful insight into the traditional life of the inhabitants, with many of these living in a similar fashion to their ancestors hundreds of years ago. The most interesting of the islands include the amazing Uros islands, where people live on floating bundles of reeds, and Taquile and Amantaní, where traditional crafts still dominate the way of life.
There are also many interesting archaeological sites near the Lake, including Sillustani, where the finely worked funerary towers rise out of the altiplano, and the Temple of Fertility, with dozens of stone phalluses emerging from the ground. The highland towns, where colonial churches mix with ancient traditions, are a fascinating look into a part of Peru few people experience.
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