The largest lake in South America by volume of water. Lake Maracaibo has a larger surface area, but it is considered a large salty bay due to the presence of direct contact with the sea.
It is often dubbed the world’s tallest lake of navigation, with a surface height of 3,812 meters (12, 507 feet). Although this refers to commuting by large boat, it is considered in the commercial literal sense. For many years the largest floating ship on a lake was about 2,200 tons, 79 meters (259 feet) SS Olanta. Today it has probably become the largest ship of similar size, as of June 17, 2013, across the dock from Ulanta.
It is located on the lake at the northern end of the high altiplano basin in the Andes, on the border between Peru and Bolivia. The western part of the lake is located within the Puno region of Peru, and is located on the eastern side of the Bolivian La Paz department.
The lake consists of two nearly separate and sub-basins that are connected to the Tecunot Strait, which is a height of 800 meters (2,620 feet) across the narrowest point. It is also the largest sub-basin, Lago Grande (also called Chucuito), and has an average depth of 135 meters (443 feet) and a maximum depth of 284 meters (932 feet).
Since 2000, Lake Titicaca has witnessed a steady decline in water levels. Between April and November 2009, alone, the water level decreased by 81 cm (32), reaching the lowest level since 1949.
This decline during the rainy seasons causes the glaciers that feed the tributaries of the lake to shorten and thaw. Water pollution is also a growing concern because cities in the Titicaca catchment grow, sometimes outnumbering solid waste and wastewater treatment.
Lake Titicaca has a cold alpine climate with cold temperatures for more than a year. The average annual rainfall is 610 mm. In dry winters with night, very cold mornings and warm afternoons. It is below average temperatures of Juliaca City in the northern part of the lake
