the lake is at an elevation of 12,500 feet and by volume is the largest lake in South America.

Reportedly the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. There's quite a story about a steam engine ship that was built in Europe, disassembled and brought in pieces to the lake and reassembled.

The lake is on the border of Peru and Boliva and is in a rather desolate and in my experience forlorn region. While we were there labor strikes and other political demonstrations broke out with roads closed and traffic halted about a day after we left.

The history of the indigenous people fleeing the early Incas by living on their reed boats and building floating mats on which to build reed huts is interesting.

That culture is almost at an end as the young people want to be on shore with television, beer, possible money and other aspects of modern society. What is available for viewing are semi permanent reed dwelling people who are anchored near the harbor of Puno to earn tourist dollars.

One visit is enough.