There are only some 2000 Uru in the world; a few hundred of them live on floating islands on Lake Titicaca. They are the last descendants of a pre-Inca nation. A long time ago, they spoke their own language, Uru, but the language died some five centuries ago. Today they speak Aymara and Spanish.



Their islands are made from reeds that they gather in the shallow waters of Lake Titicaca. The Uru live from fishing and more recently, from tourism. Their islands range in size from 30 to over 100 meters. The smaller ones house only 3 families, the largest ones, ten. There are currently about sixty islands floating on the Titicaca lake. The reed rotting very fast, they add a new 10 cm thick layer every 2-3 weeks on their islands. This way, an island can last thirty years.



Their homes, and , until recently, their boats , were also made ​​of reed.



It is unclear why the Uru decided to move on floating islands, but most often it is assumed that the Uru tried escape the Inca this way, who made them prisoners and enslaved them.