This incredible freshwater lake not only boasts some of the most breathtaking natural scenery in the world, but it has also earned some impressive world records. Lake Titicaca is a large freshwater lake in the Andes mountains, on the border of Bolivia and Peru.

With a surface elevation of 12,507 feet (3,812 metres), it is often called the highest navigable lake in the world. What’s more, it is the largest lake in South America, both in terms of water volume and surface area. It is found at the northern end of the endorheic Altiplano basin – the most extensive high plateau on Earth outside Tibet.

Lake Titicaca covers such a wide area that its western part lies within the Puno Region of Peru and the eastern side is found in the Bolivian La Paz Department. 

At its widest, it stretches for 118 miles long and 50 miles wide, with a surface area of 3,232 square miles. It has a maximum depth of 922 foot (281 metres), and is able to hold an incredible 215 cubic miles of water. 

Five major river systems feed into Lake Titicaca, including the Ramis, Costa and Ilave, along with more than 20 other smaller streams. 

The lake also has 41 islands, some of which are densely populated. The “Floating Islands” are human-made islands constructed by the Uros (or Uru) people from layers of cut totora – a thick, buoyant sedge that grows abundantly in the lake’s shallows. They can often be as large as half the size of a football field. Uros built the islands, which could be moved into deep water or to different parts of the lake for greater safety from their hostile neighbours.

They use banana-shaped totora reed boats for transportation and fishing and form a votal part of the Uros culture and way of life. 

The lake is often called the highest navigable lake in the world, a claim generally referring to commercial craft. Numerous smaller lakes around the world are at higher elevations, including the crater lake of Ojos del Salado, which, at an elevation of 21,260 to 21,330 feet, is the highest lake overall. 

For many years, the largest vessel afloat on Lake Titicaca was the 2,200-ton, 259-foot) SS Ollanta. Today, the largest vessel is most likely the similarly sized train barge, Manco Capac, operated by PeruRail.

However, in the last 25 years Lake Titicaca has experienced constantly receding water levels. Between April and November 2009 alone, the water level dropped by 31 inches (81 centimetres), reaching the lowest level since 1949. This drop is caused by shortened rainy seasons and the melting of glaciers feeding the tributaries of the lake.

Water pollution is also an increasing concern because while cities in the Titicaca watershed grow, they outpace solid waste and sewage treatment infrastructure. A 2011 United Nations report found alarming concentrations of cadmium, arsenic, and lead in various parts of the lake. 

Lake Titicaca is home to more than 530 aquatic species, including threatened species such as the huge Titicaca water frog and the flightless Titicaca grebe. Chilean flamingo, Puna ibis and various other bird species are also found here.