The Department of Puno, constituted today in Region Puno, is one of the 25 regions that compose the Peruvian territory (with exception of the capital´s province). It is situated in the country´s South-eastern mountain ranges, on the Collao High Plateau.

The Region Puno is situated between 13º0066´00´´ and 17º17´30´´ of latitude South and 71º06´57´´ and 68º48´46´´ of longitude West, from the Greenwich Meridian. To the South, it borders with the Region Tacna; to the East, with the Republic of Bolivia and to the West, with the regions of Cusco, Arequipa and Moquegua. The cities, villages and communities in the Region Puno are located between 3,812 and 5,500 m. above sea level, as well as on the jungle´s edge and high jungle, between 4,200 and 4,500 m.a.s.l. Furthermore, Puno as regional capital city is situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca, at an altitude of 3,820 m.
The department´s capital city: Puno, with an altitude of 3,820 m., is called the Silver City.

Clima: The maximum average temperature in the whole Region Puno, is of 22ºC and the minimum is of 14ºC. In summer, the average temperature in the capital city of Puno ranges from 15 to 22ºC and in winter, from 5 to 16ºC. This is due to the thermal effect produced by the Lake Titicaca. During the day, the lake stores the Sun´s heat and at night, it lets it loose, making it so that the city of Puno enjoys a milder climate than the region´s other provinces. In Juliaca, the average temperature in summer ranges from 10 to 15ºC and in winter, from -5 to 8ºC. Relatively, it is one of the coldest cities on the High Plateau, as it doesn´t benefit from the lake´s thermal system, as is the case of Puno.

THE UROS ISLANDS

The Uros Islands are a set of floating islands made of “totora” (aquatic weed) and inhabited by the Uros; an indigenous population of descendants of one of America´s most ancient culture.
The Uros´ main economic activities are fishing and hunting. They also dedicate themselves to wool carpet weaving and taxidermy of animals.
In order to get to these islands, one must use the services of local motorized barges which leave the Port of Puno, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The visit to that place lasts about 3 hours.

AMANTANI:

Amantani Island is situated to the East of the Capachica Peninsula, to the North of Taquile Island, on Lake Titicaca (Peru). It has an almost circular shape, with an average diameter of 3.4 km. It reaches a surface of 9.28 km², as it is the largest island on the Peruvian side of the lake. Its maximum height, on top of Mount Llacastiti, is of 4,150 m.a.s.l.; that is to say, 320 m. above the lake´s level (3,810 m.a.s.l.).
The population is of about 800 families distributed in 8 communities and their main means of subsistence is agriculture, as they produce potatoes, “ocas” (Andean tubercles), barley and broad beans. Bovines stand out in their livestock activities and their textile activity is similar to that of Taquile, as much in variety, as in designs. Due to the existence of granite rock on Mount Llacastiti, the cutting and carving of utensils for daily use and that of decorative elements for construction, has developed.

The island´s occupation dates back to pre-Incan times. In the 1580´s, the island was sold by King Carlos the 5th of Spain to Pedro González. [1]
From that moment on, the island was in the hands of Spanish descendant “gamonales” (landowners). At the beginning of the 1900´s and as a consequence of harsh draughts, the landowners started to sell their land to the natives. Around the 1950´s, Amantani´s farmers had acquired almost the whole island and adopted an organization based on family bonds and reciprocity in the work of family property divided in land lots.

TAQUILE:

Taquile or Intika (in Quechua) is an island situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca, in Peru, 45 km. away from the city of Puno. It has an approximate population of 1,700 inhabitants. The main locality is located at 3,950 m.a.s.l. and the island´s highest point reaches 4,050 m.a.s.l. The island´s inhabitants are known as “Taquileños” and speak Quechua.
Intika was part of the Incan Empire, as up to present days, one can appreciate some archaeological remains from that time period. That island was one of the last Peruvian localities to fall into Spanish hands, in the 16th century. Finally, it was taken over in the name of King Carlos the 5th and eventually, was passed on to the Court of Rodrigo de Taquile, who gave his last name to the island. The Spaniards forbade the traditional Incan way of dressing, obliging the island´s inhabitants to adopt farmers´ clothing still in use in present days.

SILLUSTANI:

Sillustani is located in a peninsula of the Umayo Lagoon, 34 km. from Puno and is a cemetery where one can see a series of impressive tombs pertaining to the Kolla culture (1200 -1450) that developed on the Northern part of the lagoon, in the locality known as Hatuncolla. The tombs´ singular shape looks like inverted cone-like cylinders called “chullpas” which are constructions that can also be found in lesser numbers, in several other places of the High Plateau, such as Acora, Llave, etc. (Sillustani = Sillus (Finger Nail) + Llustani (Slippery Place) = Slippery Place for Finger Nails, as it might refer to the fact that there is no way to introduce a finger nail between the joints of the outer stone blocks).

Before it was placed in the chullpa, the body was mummified in the fetal position. Along with the mummy, were placed its belongings, like in some cases, objects of gold and silver, utensils of pottery and food, as beliefs were that after death, the dead were resurrected in another place, where they had to eat and drink at will, just as they did before they died.
In that region, one can observe different types of sepultures, from the most rustic pre-Incan ones, to the most sophisticated mausoleums, with multiple angle stones perfectly fitting in their outer part.