Lake Titicaca

Trevor and I arrived in Puno in the wee hours of the morning. It is so cold at 3800 meters! Puno is one of the ugliest towns I have visited. The houses are not well maintained, the streets are dirty and even the touristy walk along the lake is quite polluted and smelly. Nonetheless, we booked an all day tour of the artificial reed villages for tomorrow and then we will cross the lake again on our way to La Paz.

Lake Titicaca is significant in Inca Culture because the first Inca, Manco Capac, is said to have been born of the lake. The lake is significant to a water nerd because the culture of the people living on this lake is so directly dependent and have been for thousands of years. Although I have been disappointed in the obvious pollution of the lake in Puno, I have high expectations for the families we will visit tomorrow. For example, the cattail like plant, Schoenoplectus tatora, is used by people indigenous to this area to make baskets and reed boats. These plants are also used to remove phosphorus and nitrogen from effluents before being discharged. Water and waste water projects in Puno and in Lake Titicaca have brought researchers here from all over the world. Because of this I will cross my fingers and hope for a little water zen tomorrow....