Uru people
Uro boy
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (4600) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Lake Titicaca islands, Puno, Peru and Bolivia | |
 Bolivia
|
2600 |
 Peru
|
2000 |
| Languages | |
| Aymara, Spanish, Uru language | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Aymaras | |
The Uru or Uros (Uru: Qhas Qut suñi) are an indigenous people of Peru and Bolivia. They live on on forty-two self-fashioned floating islands in Lake Titicaca near Puno. They form three main groups: Uru-Chipayas, Uru-Muratos and the Uru-Iruitos. The latter are still located on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca and Desaguadero River.
The Uru descend from a millennial town that, according to legends, are "pukinas" who speak Uru or Pukina and that believe they are the owners of the lake and water. Uru used to say that they have black blood because they did not feel the cold. Also they call themselves "Lupihaques" (Sons of The Sun). Nowadays, Uru do not speak the Uru language, nor practice their old beliefs, but keep some old customs.
The purpose of the island settlements was originally defensive, and if a threat arose they could be moved. The largest island retains a watchtower almost entirely constructed of reeds.
The Uru traded with the Aymara tribe on the mainland, intermarrying with them and eventually abandoning the Uru language for that of the Aymara. About 500 years ago they lost their original language. When conquered by the Inca empire, they had to pay taxes to them, and often were made slaves.
The Uru use bundles of dried totora reeds to make reed boats (balsas), and to make the islands themselves.
The larger islands house about ten families, while smaller ones, only about thirty meters wide, house only two or three families.
The islets are made of totora reeds, which grow in the lake. The dense roots that the plants develop and interweave form a natural layer called Khili (about one to two meters thick) that support the islands. They are anchored with ropes attached to sticks driven into the bottom of the lake. The reeds at the bottoms of the islands rot away fairly quickly, so new reeds are added to the top constantly, about every three months; this is what makes it exciting for tourists when walking on the island. This is especially important in the rainy season when the reeds rot much faster. The islands last about thirty years.
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Wikipedia