The best-known of the islands dotting Titicaca's surface are the Uros, floating islands of reed named after the Indians who inhabited them. Legend has it the Uro Indians had black blood that helped them survive the frigid nights on the water and safeguarded them from drowning. The last full-blooded Uro was a woman who died in 1959. Other Uros had left the group of islands in earlier years owing to a drought that worsened their poverty - and intermarried with Aymará and Quechua-speaking Indians. But the Indians who now inhabit this island - a mix of Uro, Aymara and Inca descendants - follow the Uro ways. The Uros islanders fish, hunt birds and live off lake plants, with the most important element in their life being the lake totora reeds that they use for their houses, boats and even as the base of their five islands - the largest of which are Toranipata, Huaca Huacani and Santa Maria. The bottoms of the reed islands decay in the water and are replaced from the top with new layers, making a spongy surface that is a bit difficult to walk on. Like the Uros, many of the lakeside dwellers depend extensively on this reed in their every day life. The totora reed, Scirpus totora, of the papyrus family grows 2 to 3 meters (6.5 to 10 feet) above the water level. It is used by lakeside dwellers to make fishing boats, homes, or to feed cattle. Entire islands are fabricated on reed beds. The tender stems are also used in salads We visited this island on April 20, 2006 at 5:40 AM.

Typical Uros Island. Made Of Totora Reed. Scirpus californicus

Typical Uros Island

Typical Uros Island Reed Boat; Made Of Totora Reed. Scirpus californicus.

Typical Uros Island Reed Boat

Leaving Puno In The Far Distant Background	A Whole Fleet Of Tour Boats Head For Different Uros Islands
Almost All Of The Tour Boats Look Like This	We Pass Libertador Hotel Located On Esteves Island
Lake Titicaca's Surface Has Lot's Of Duckweed	Typical Uros Island
Typical Uros Island	Typical Uros Island
Uros Women Tying Down Our Boat	Uros Women Tying Down Our Boat
Hey Audrey! They Have A Fish Trap Behind Me In The Reeds!	The Trout Trap is Here
Lake Trout Lurking Under Water	Lake Trout Striking Food
Uros Island Reed Houses	Uros Island Reed Houses
Uros Island Reed Houses	Uros Island Reed Houses
Uros Woman Demonstrating Use Of Totora Reed.	Uros Child
Uros Island Birds	Uros Island Watchtower
At Another Island We See Something On The Water	A Reed Boat Filled With Tourists
"Hotel" Rooms For Tourists To Spend The Night They Even Have A Restroom!	Here Is The Restroom!
Tourist Hotel Rooms	Tourist Hotel Rooms
Hey, It's Time To Leave	Buying Those "Must Have"!! Tourist Items, Before We Leave
Hope You Enjoyed Our Tour!	Time To Rest!