After our two night stay in La Paz, Bolivia it was time for us to increase elevation and visit the beautiful Lake Titicaca. With the snow-topped glacier mountains of the Cordillera Real in the backdrop, we began our long drive towards Copacabana around the eastern edge of the lake. It took a long time for us to get out of the overgrown “El Alto” and the road that lead past Huatajata towards the Tiquina Strait showed urban sprawl.
I remember these areas thirty years ago when they were large fields with Aymara Indians working them. Growing potatoes as their primary crop, many of these crops have been replaced with the more profitable Quinoa. Even though farming is now becoming a more beneficial trade many of the younger Aymara people are choosing to move into the city for a different way of life.
Lake Titicaca is considered to be the highest navigable lake in the world, bordering Peru and Bolivia. With two sections that are connected by the Tiquina Strait, the lake is a beautiful sight to see.
On our way towards Copacabana, we stopped and watched a large, fast and furious rain storm pass while enjoying a delicacy from the lake. “Trucha” or lake trout is now being farmed on the lake and had been introduced to the area in the 1930’s by United States Fish and Wildlife Service. A seemingly good idea to provide a food source and livelihood for the locals, the near century presence of this non-native fish has threatened native species in the lake.
It was almost like being in a Bubba Gump Shrimp commercial ~ Trucha in many different ways was offered on the menu.
We arrived to the Tiquina Strait and the only way to continue was to drive our truck onto a ferry boat and brave the after storm waters. Usually they load the boat with as many vehicles as they can fit onto it, but I insisted that we take the boat on our own. It ended up being a calm and peaceful crossing and Andean Coots greeted us along the shorelines.
Driving away from the strait, the storm clouds began to lift and the Cordillera Real became illuminated by what seemed as the Grace of God.
Lake Titicaca is a special place and its importance to the landscape should never be underestimated. Suffering from lowering waters due to shorter rainy seasons, and melting glacier mountains that feed the lake, the effect of pollution is becoming even more evident. It is a biodiverse lake hosting more than 530 aquatic species that live on the waters.
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
Incredible images…
Just loved the diversity here.
Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Not only the wildlife but the people are amazing there Sreejith. Thank you so much for appreciating these posts as much as you are.
So beautiful it almost looks otherworldly! It seems to me that humans keep making the same mistake all over the world when introducing new species to a habitat, with the new species taking over the native, like the grey squirrel taking over the red one in the UK, toads in Australia, introduced to eat some kind of beetle, I believe, and has now become a pest. When will we ever learn?
Now that’s wild. Why anyone would give Australia our greedy gray squirrels is beyond me. Dumb…a lot of this happened on the Galapagos Islands and it’s costing millions to bring the islands back to their native and natural state. Thank you Fatima.
The grey squirrels were introduced in the UK, the toads in Australia. We keep making the same mistake over and over again. When will we ever learn not to interfere with the local ecosystems?
Thank you for this amazing vicarious journey to a place I’ve always wanted to see.
Truly my pleasure Patti, and there is much more to come on this amazing adventure. Thank you.
A truly mystical country, what a treasure.
Bolivia is in my blood Terri, so going there is like going home for me. Felt completely at ease and safe the entire time.
Loved seeing the area I visited in 1979. I expect it is very different now!
Much is the same, more is not Eliza. Perhaps one day you can return as well.
I hope the Lake’s habitat will be preserved with less pollution. Trout or Tilapia are great fish that will thrive on a lake.
Alas, Bolivia has a very poor trash removal program and trash can be seen everywhere. They’re not even good at at least piling it up in one location in a small village. The government is so corrupt that true conservation and preservation for the natural habitats and historical sights throughout the country are lacking.