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Funfani.com - Spreading Fun All Over!IMAGE CORNERWallpapers/Cool ImagesArchitectureFascinating Living Growing Architecture
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Rhea Thomas
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« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2009, 06:32:37 AM »
3. The Living Islands of the Uros People

The Uros peoples' lives revolve around reeds. They make reed houses, reed boats, reed flower tea, and use reeds as medicine.


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« Last Edit: October 19, 2009, 02:12:18 AM by Ryan Martis » Report to moderator   Logged
Rhea Thomas
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« Reply #13 on: September 30, 2009, 06:32:54 AM »
But most amazingly, the Uros build entire islands out of those very same reeds. It is the fact that these islands are alive that makes them work. The dense root structures of the living reed masses keeps the whole island together and floating on the lake.


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« Last Edit: October 19, 2009, 02:12:30 AM by Ryan Martis » Report to moderator   Logged
Rhea Thomas
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« Reply #14 on: September 30, 2009, 06:33:03 AM »
As reeds disintegrate from the bottom of the islands, which are four to eight feet thick, residents must add more to the surface. The entire island moves slightly with the water, similar to the feeling of laying on a waterbed. The Uros, however, have gotten quite used to it, as have the cats, fowl and other animals that live on these floating islands.

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Rhea Thomas
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« Reply #15 on: September 30, 2009, 06:33:44 AM »
The Uros have been living on these floating islands since the 1500s when they were forced to take up residence on Lake Titicaca after the Incas expanded into their territory. While many of the islands are moored to the lakebed, they can be moved if necessary. One of the main advantages to living on a floating island is that when the enemy comes too close, you can just float the other way.

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Rhea Thomas
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« Reply #16 on: September 30, 2009, 06:35:14 AM »
Even tiny outhouse islands have been created, in which the living roots help absorb the waste.

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« Reply #17 on: September 30, 2009, 06:35:25 AM »
Today, in the shadow of the Andes, on the world’s highest navigable lake, hundreds of Uros (or descendants of the Uros, depending on how you define them) live on these floating islands and make their living from fishing and selling their reed handicrafts to tourists.

« Last Edit: October 19, 2009, 02:13:17 AM by Ryan Martis » Report to moderator   Logged
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