Isla del Sol

Template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / image missing

The Isla del Sol ( German "Sun Island" ) is an entity belonging to Bolivia island in Lake Titicaca. The island is divided into three municipalities, Cha'llapampa in the north, center and Yumani Cha'lla in the south. On it about 2000 people live.

From the Bolivian town of Copacabana there are regular excursion boats to Isla del Sol. The island is 14.3 km ² and 1 km from the mainland, the Copacabana peninsula, away. The highest elevation of the island ( Cerro Chequesan ) is 4,075 m high ( ie it rises 265 m above the level of Lake Titicaca ).

In Yumani one finds the Inca temple, the stairs of the Inca and the Inca fountain. In contrast Cha'llapampa it is worth to visit the Gold Museum or the maze of Inca. Just outside, between Cha'llapampa and Cha'lla are the ruins and the Roca Sagrada, which reflects the shape of a puma. Although Cha'lla itself offers no attractions of the Incas, but has a very nice bay with a sandy beach.

History

The original name of the island was Titicaca, after the later of Lake Titicaca was named. The origin of the name is uncertain. It is based on two Aymara words: titi called " Big Cat " and kak means "rock". Loosely translated, it means "Cougar Rock". On the other hand, Quechua is called titi "lead" or " livid ", Qaqa means "rock", or " leaden (lead- colored ) rock ."

In the mythology of the Incas to the sun god Inti his children, Manco Capac the first Inca and his wife Mama Ocllo have left on a rock of the Isla del Sol to Earth. Thus, the Isla del Sol in the mythology of the Incas plays a very important role.

Another island in Lake Titicaca, which is connected to the Inca mythology, the Isla de la Luna ( Moon Island dt ).