Puno
Photos from 1989
Lake Titicaca
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located at the edge of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, at 3,860 m (12,421 ft) above sea level. It is also the capital and largest city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province.
Puno
Puno's importance to the vast Inca empire was reflected in a legendary connection. Inca tradition has it that Manco Capac, the first Inca, rose from the waters of Lake Titicaca, under the orders of the Sun God, to start the Inca Empire, which would be centered in the neighboring region and city of Cuzco.
railroad from Puno to Cuzco
In 1668, viceroy Conde de Lemos established San Juan Bautista de Puno as the capital of the province of Paucarcolla. Later, it was called San Carlos de Puno, in honor of the ruling king, Charles II of Spain.
the train
From that moment, the town began to change physically, as the Spanish priests, in their eagerness to evangelize the natives, built the churches which still stand today.
Today, Puno is an important agricultural and livestock region; particularly of
South American camelids (llamas and alpacas) which graze on its immense plateaus
and plains.
Puno has been named the "Capital folklórica del Perú" (folkloric capital of Peru) from the wealth of its artistic and cultural expressions, particularly dance. They are most notable during the celebrations of the Feast of the "Virgen de la Candelaria" and the Regional Competition of Autochthonous Dances.
Puno's access to Lake Titicaca is surrounded by 41 floating islands. To this day, the Uros people maintain and live on the man-made islands, depending on the lake for their survival. The area surrounding the city was where the Aymara civilization started.
text from Wikipedia
