Human innovation is astounding. It was barely 100 years ago when wood and sheets were used in an attempt to mimic the flight of a bird. 50 odd years after that humans were on their way to the moon. Today we’re growing organs in laboratories from a few follicles of hair. This Monday’s meander is about human innovation. Not as ground-breaking as the Wright brothers or as mind blowing as the genetic marvels of today, nonetheless, innovation originating in preservation and survival.
Lake Titicaca
Located between Bolivia and Peru, Lake Titicaca is one of the most fascinating lakes in the world. It is situated at an altitude of over 3800 meters above sea level. Lake Titicaca is considered a sacred place for the Inca civilisation. Incan mythology says that the first Inca king, Manco Capac, was born on Lake Titicaca and is also where the world was created from, when the god Viracocha came out of the lake and created the sun, the stars and the first people. A spectacular place to visit.
The photo you see above is of the edge of an island…a man made island. Its simply layers upon layers of long thick reeds called totoro reeds that grow along the banks of Lake Titicaca. People live on these man made islands all their lives frequenting the main land rarely. Generations of families are bestowed with the responsibility of maintaining these islands; to keep them afloat. What is absolutely fascinating is that twice a year or so, another layer of totoro reeds are spread across the entire island as bottom layers wither away in the water.
When males become of age, they are given a piece of the island, literally. An edge of the island is carved off and gifted to young men as a start to a new life. There are laws within the indigenous people of the area that dictate how often and how large any new island can be. There is a natural balance and order in the allocation of the ‘land’ on Lake Titicaca. Everything that is used on and around these islands from bowls to boats are made of totoro reeds. It’s really a site to see.
Simple but effective. Innovation that maintains a sustainable existence and an entire functioning community.