The Uros people of Lake Titicaca have a unique way of life - they build their own islands, float them on the lake and then proceed to live on them. Here is a glimpse of their world, where their home made "islands" are truly "in the stream".
Like many unique cultures around the world, that of the Uros is under threat from assimilation. Most of the Uros speak Aymara - which is the language of a larger local tribe that is resolutely mainland. It is thought that they lost their own language around five hundred years ago. Whether the language was naturally lost or Aymara was forced upon the Uros is not known, but the relatively recent arrival of Europeans has been the greatest threat to their cultural identity - greater than that of the Inca Empire - to which the Uros had to pay taxes and give up many of their own people as slaves.
Traditionally there are around forty small islands on the lake with one - the largest - being the focal point of the community. The reed, as well as being - quite literally - the foundation of the community, is important to the Uros' economy and well being. Iodine is produced from the base of the reed and it is also used for general medicinal purposes. The reeds are wrapped around parts of the body that are hurting and, purportedly - cure it of its aches and pains! The flower of the reed is also used to brew up a cuppa
Like many unique cultures around the world, that of the Uros is under threat from assimilation. Most of the Uros speak Aymara - which is the language of a larger local tribe that is resolutely mainland. It is thought that they lost their own language around five hundred years ago. Whether the language was naturally lost or Aymara was forced upon the Uros is not known, but the relatively recent arrival of Europeans has been the greatest threat to their cultural identity - greater than that of the Inca Empire - to which the Uros had to pay taxes and give up many of their own people as slaves.
Traditionally there are around forty small islands on the lake with one - the largest - being the focal point of the community. The reed, as well as being - quite literally - the foundation of the community, is important to the Uros' economy and well being. Iodine is produced from the base of the reed and it is also used for general medicinal purposes. The reeds are wrapped around parts of the body that are hurting and, purportedly - cure it of its aches and pains! The flower of the reed is also used to brew up a cuppa
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