.More than one hundred and five miles long and more than 13,100 feet above sea level, deep blue Lake Titicaca has been infused with the patina of traditional folklore.

.The lake was also the nexus point of Inca creation myths. . According to the legends of the Inca, the god Vairacocha came out of Lake Titicaca in order to create both the sun and the moon, as well as, to shape humans from stone.

. Interestingly, the Uros people of Lake Titicaca, who now live on the floating Uros islands made from compressed layers of totora reeds, originally left the lower altitude terraces surrounding the lake in their reed boats in order to avoid interaction with tribes like the Incas.

. At the bottom of the lake there are stone ruins buried under six feet of sediment which contain fossils of seashells that existed prior to 12,000 BCE.

. There is also a stone causeway at the 9,000 feet level that leads nowhere which archaeologists have conjectured once used to be at sea level and continued on until it reached the Pacific Ocean.

. On the slopes of the mountains that soar above the lake, there are ancient corn terraces where it can be seen that prehistoric peoples once cultivated corn both before and after the cataclysms that influenced the area, causing the Andes to rise.

. There seems to be common thread which links together the various Peruvian cultures with god Vairacocha and Tiahuanaco at Lake Titicaca which also borders Bolivia.

. Perched on a lofty ridge that faced the crest of Mount Huayna Picchu, the Machu Picchu complex remains one of the world's most awe inspiring and mystifying ancient sites.

. The surrounding woods are filled with abundant flora including ferns and over ninety species of orchids. Subtropical fauna in the area include wildcats and a variety of butterflies. Adding a majestic touch of beauty to Machu Picchu, feathery mists rose from the swirling waters of the Urubamba River far below to crown the sacred site.

. Machu Picchu had agricultural terraces, gates, houses, main squares, stairways, storerooms, temples, water fountains, and workshops. The city was U-shaped and the main complex was divided by a grassy central plaza.