The World’s Longest-Floating Mobile Homes

One group has lived on moving islands made of living reeds continuously for hundreds of years in rural South America. Amazing!

Everything floats with them on their giant lake – homes, boats, furniture and more. The Uros islanders fish and craft, anchor as necessary but move across the surface as well. As the eight-foot-thick beds of reeds these people and objects rest upon slowly sink below, more is added above to make up the difference. Each step yields 2 to 4 inches of give underfoot.

A watchtower on a large central island recalls the original purpose to their flight from land – enemies encroaching on all sides, forcing them to build upon the water.