The strange life of the 'black blood' tribe living on the world's highest freshwater lake

Lake Titicaca is a large freshwater lake located on the border of Peru and Bolivia, famous for being the highest lake in the world and possessing a unique system of fauna and flora. However, what really makes this lake "unique" is the people who live floating on the lake - the Uros .

Lake Titicaca is 3,812 metres above sea level, located in the Altiplano of the Andes, so access to the lake is not easy. However, that does not affect the approximately 4,000 people who live on the lake. They have created their own islands using the reeds that grow abundantly along the lake. 

The original purpose of the islands was for defense. Over the thousands of years since the area was inhabited, the need to compete for abundant food and water resources led to constant warfare. By living on floating islands, when threatened by enemies, the Uros could simply move their island to another location and escape.

The islands were "anchored" by the Uros people along the shores of the lake to prevent them from drifting too far away.

Their long time living on the lake made them consider themselves the owners of the vast lake, and they also claimed that the Uros had black blood because they did not feel the cold . They also called themselves "Lupihaques", meaning "Sons of the Sun God".

The reed islands themselves can last up to 30 years if properly maintained. The Uros people continually add new layers of reed on top as the submerged reeds begin to rot, a process that is part of their way of life.

Layers of dried reeds are woven and stacked on top of each other to form floating islands that can withstand enormous weight. A large island can support the weight of 10 families, while smaller islands typically have 2-3 families living on them.

It may sound primitive, but the Uros are more modern than we think. They cook their food on rocks to avoid catching fire in the reeds. They also use solar panels to light up, watch TV, and charge their phones.

Despite not having any modern cooking utensils, the Uros are able to cook without setting fire to their homes.

Handicrafts made from reeds

Colorful traditional costumes of the Uros people

The main source of food for the islanders is fishing, bird hunting, and they also raise ducks and guinea pigs (a traditional Peruvian dish). Like the indigenous people's way of life, the wildlife here is so unique that 90% of the fish found in Lake Titicaca cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

The Uros people not only use reeds to build their homes, but they also use it to make furniture, boats and handicrafts to sell to tourists.

In recent years, tourism has become a major part of the Uros economy. People open their homes and welcome tourists from all over the world. Their unique way of life and the vast expanse of Lake Titicaca have made these floating islands a must-see destination when traveling in Peru.

The Uros way of life is amazing, but it is slowly disappearing. Many still choose to live in the traditional way, rebuilding islands and going out to the lake to fish, but many young people are choosing to leave and start a new life on the mainland.