| Puno |
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| The Magic of Lake Titicaca |
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Puno is fundamentally a high plateau
(3 500-4 800 masl). Its landscape surprises because
of the vast Lake Titicaca (8 300 square kilometers),
the highest navigable lake in the world (3 812 masl),
and the snow-capped peaks flanking its eastern side
The foundation myths and several legends mention the
lake and its islands as the sacred origin of the Inca
forefathers and gods. Tauile, Amantani, Suasi and now
home to Quechua and Aymara populations of farmers and
weavers. |
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| The Llallahua Cochas |
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Located in the high altitude Highlands
or Puna, over 3 850 masl, these cochas (lagoons) are
a system still used today by the current indigenous
population for raising their cattle and intensive farming.
In the Titicaca high plateau, framing systems evolve
under very adverse weather conditions that constantly
jeopardize production. There, unstable weather translates
into prolonged draughts, flooding, hail and frost that
old populations of the area fought through clever agricultural
technologies.
The cocha system, for example, is made up of small rainfed
artificial lagoons linked by canals to manage water
within and among cochas. Soil provides natural fertility.
Always humid, the ground breeds abundant biomass, that
the system turns into fine, nutrient-rich soil.
Cochas also contributes to fight frost, one of the greatest
challenges of high-altitude framing. Water mirrors acting
as heat pumps, the cochas store heat during the day
and transfer it when the sun sets, thus preventing frost.
Sloping sides help circulate air, specially when a draft
rises from the water mirror, also contributing to mitigate
frost. |
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| The Titicaca Waru - Warus |
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In the lower, lees steep reaches of the
High Plateau, between 3 800 and 3 850 masl, ancient populations
rose to another challenge posed by Lake Titicaca and its
tributaries: floods.
To counteract floods, gigantic furrows- four to 10 m wide
by 100 m long and one m high- improved drainage, soil
fertility and created water mirrors to defend plants from
hail and frost. Dating back to be found scattered over
142, 000 Ha. Recent research has shown potato yields 40%
higher there than on mountain slopes or plains. |
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Archeology |
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| The Pukara Ceremonial Center |
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This 4 square kilometers archeological site,
in activity around 150 AD, is located at 3 825 masl and
106 km from Puno. It stands out for its monumental architecture
boasting a group of pyramidal mounds built over echeloned
platforms.
The most important among them is Kalasaya, where stucco
walls were painted yellow. On the eastern and upper sector
of the pyramid, sits what is left of a small temple called
Red and White, of semicircular shape open through a stairway
to a square, sunken plaza.
Human rests and fragments of gold, silver and copper artifacts
have been found in the funerary chambers on each side
of the square open to the outsides through double threshold
gates.
A series of small chambers of obvious ritual function
can be seen surrounding the higher side of the plaza.
The faces of the platforms were decorated with stone sculptures,
presumably those of The Beheader, sculpted, fish images,
and a stone-slab decorated with representations of lightnings.
Excavations have revealed a group of profusely decorated
ceremonial vases and small stone sculptures placed in
niches. |
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Archeology |
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| The Sillustani Chulpas |
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Dating back to Inca times, Sillustani is
4 km from the Hatunqolla site, capital of the Qolla kingdom.
It is famous for its chulpas (tombs), built to host the
bodies of the Umayo peninsula aristocrats.
Variously sized, the chulpas can be 12 meters high and
either rectangular, square or circular. Many are built
rustically, others are fine Inca stonework, and others
still are built in adobe brick.
Superb construction techniques were used in their internal
false vault and lateral rock interlocking. Outside they
are made with polished and cushioned ashlar, showing cornices
and relief animal decorations.
Typical Inca materials combine with Qolla elements. Some
evidence shows that many chulpas were painted in white.
Similar chulpas can be found in places like Viscachani,
Paro-Paro and Katati in the same region. |
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Archeology |
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