Peru Travel & Tours Pictures & Photos, Uros Islands
Peru Travel & Tours
Pictures & Photos

Uros Islands

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
Typical Uros Island. Made Of Totora Reed. Scirpus californicus
Typical Uros Island
Typical Uros Island
Typical Uros Island Reed Boat
Typical Uros Island Reed Boat; Made Of Totora Reed. Scirpus californicus.
Typical Uros Island Reed Boat
Typical Uros Island Reed Boat
Lake TiticacaTour Boats
Leaving Puno In The
Far Distant Background
A Whole Fleet Of Tour Boats
Head For Different Uros Islands
Puno Libertador Hotel
Almost All Of The Tour
Boats Look Like This
We Pass Libertador Hotel
Located On Esteves Island
DuckweedTypical Uros Island
Lake Titicaca's Surface
Has Lot's Of Duckweed
Typical Uros Island
Typical Uros IslandTypical Uros Island
Typical Uros IslandTypical Uros Island
Uros WomenTying Down Our Boat
Uros Women Tying
Down Our Boat
Uros Women Tying
Down Our Boat
Fish TrapLake Trout Fish Trap
Hey Audrey! They Have A
Fish Trap Behind Me
In The Reeds!
The Trout Trap is Here
Lake Trout LurkingLake Trout Striking
Lake Trout Lurking Under WaterLake Trout Striking Food
Uros Island Reed HousesUros Island Reed Houses
Uros Island Reed HousesUros Island Reed Houses
Uros Island Reed HousesUros Island Reed Houses
Uros Island Reed HousesUros Island Reed Houses
Use Of  Totora ReedUros Child
Uros Woman Demonstrating
Use Of Totora Reed.
Uros Child
Uros Island BirdsUros Island Watchtower
Uros Island BirdsUros Island Watchtower
Another IslandReed Boat Rides
At Another Island We See
Something On The Water
A Reed Boat
Filled With Tourists
Tourist Hotel RoomsUros Island Restroom
"Hotel" Rooms For Tourists
To Spend The Night
They Even Have A Restroom!
Here Is The Restroom!
Tourist Hotel RoomsTourist Hotel Rooms
Tourist Hotel RoomsTourist Hotel Rooms
Leaving Uros IslandsUros Island Souvenirs
Hey, It's Time To LeaveBuying Those "Must Have"!!
Tourist Items, Before We Leave
George At Uros IslandGeorge Sleeping
Hope You Enjoyed Our Tour!Time To Rest!

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