Island building
It takes a year to build an island. First a visit to the reed nursery (10km away) to saw out reed root blocks 10m long, 5 wide and 1 to 1.5m thick. These blocks are trimmed and lashed together so the roots will grow into each other and become stronger. Then cut reeds are placed 4m deep on top of the roots, in alternating layers. Houses are built on platforms another 1m high. Every few weeks another layer of cut reeds is added. The islands are anchored to the lake bed with several wooden stakes and ropes. The life of an island is 30 years.
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1... ... read more 
