Lake Titicaca: Location, Features, and Significance

Lake Titicaca straddles the Peru–Bolivia border in the Andes at 3,812 m (12,507 ft), making it the world’s highest commercially navigable lake.

Physical Characteristics

• Surface Area: 8,562 km² (3,306 mi²)—South America’s largest by volume.
• Max Depth: 284 m (932 ft); average 107 m.
• Inflow: 5 major rivers (Ramis, Coata, Ilave, Huancané, Suches) + glacier melt.
• Outflow: Desaguadero River (to Lake Poopó, Bolivia)—only 10% of water; rest lost to evaporation.
• Water: Fresh, slightly alkaline, clear; temperature 10–14°C (50–57°F).

Islands & Culture

• Uros Floating Islands: ~120 artificial islands made of totora reeds; inhabited by Uros people (pre-Inca).
• Taquile & Amantaní: Traditional Quechua communities; UNESCO Intangible Heritage (textiles, social system).
• Isla del Sol / Isla de la Luna: Sacred Inca sites; ruins, terraces, mythology (birthplace of sun).

Importance

• Water source for 1M+ people (drinking, irrigation).
• Fishery (introduced trout, native killifish).
• Tourism (200K+ visitors/yr).
• Climate regulator for Altiplano.

Threats

Pollution (mining, sewage), invasive species, water extraction, climate change (glacier loss, evaporation). Binational management (Peru–Bolivia) is essential.