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The Islands of the Sun
and Moon are a short boat ride from Copacabana. Isla del Sol is the legendary
birthplace of the Inca lineage. Although both Islands contain Inca ruins
perhaps more impressive are the views. Both Islands, as well as the better
part of both peninsulas are covered with stone faced pre-Incaic terraces
that date to the Tiwanaku era.
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Terraces like these
cover most of Isla del Sol. The 10% 0r so that are currently in use are
adequate to feed the island's 3000 inhabitants. When one sees the thousands
of hectares of land around the southern end of the lake that are covered
with these terraces it's easy to understand how the Tiwanaku culture became
so powerful. The ability to mobilize manpower and produce surpluses is
what marked the classic civilizations.
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At the north end of
Isla del Sol is a cluster of buildings known as the labyrinth (left). Nearby
is a stone that legend states is the birthplace of Manco Kapac the first
Inca. At right, Aymaran children cleanup in a fresh water spring following
recess. Their games are played amidst terraces more than a thousand years
old.
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At the south end of
the island the Inca Steps are adjacent to another spring known as the Fuente
Inca. A thousand steps rise alongside what the Spaniards believed was the
Fountain of Youth. Near the top this Aymaran woman (below) poses
for photos. They expect a tip, but no specific price is ever asked.
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Docked near the Inca
steps was this twin hulled totora reed sailing ship. It was in part boats
like these that inspired Thor Heyerdahl's theories. Now built mainly for
tourism, the totora reed industry is very much alive along the southern
part of the Peruvian coast. Reeds are also cut and woven into mats that
are used for thatching roofs.
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