Titicaca

tit-e-ka'ka, the largest lake of South America. It is situated in the great trough of the Andes at an elevation of 12,635 feet. It is about 116 miles long and one-third as wide. Its surplus waters are drained off southward, but are lost in alkali plains, once part of the lake itself, and do not leave the basin. The region is too cold for Indian corn, but it is inhabited and steamers ply on the lake. There are several islands. These and the adjacent shores bear the remains of stone buildings belonging to a prehistoric age. Huge blocks of stone have been cut and fitted with a nicety indicating architectural skill of no mean order. Peruvian engineers are considering the possibility of constructing a canal leading eastward through the Andes. This, with a view to utilizing the water for electric power to be used in lighting and manufacturing. Petroleum fields have been found in this region. See Andes; Pizarro; Peru