Underwater Mystery?Underwater Mystery?

Lost City Beneath Lake Lost City Beneath Lake Titicaca?Titicaca?

12500 feet above sea level

Max depth 982 feet.

Borders Peru and Bolivia

Legends of lost temples, cities and Legends of lost temples, cities and treasure begin within years of treasure begin within years of Spanish conquest.Spanish conquest.

Tiwanaku culture had cities on the Tiwanaku culture had cities on the shores of the lake.shores of the lake.

Many islands in the lake may have Many islands in the lake may have held religious significance.held religious significance.

Tiwanaku people fully capable of Tiwanaku people fully capable of reaching the islands.reaching the islands.

Some may have had temples.Some may have had temples. Inca legend relates that the island of Inca legend relates that the island of

the moon is where Viracocha ordered the moon is where Viracocha ordered the creation of the moon. Temples the creation of the moon. Temples are present there predating the Inca.are present there predating the Inca.

Early accounts and later Early accounts and later researchresearch

1621 Story published about the 1621 Story published about the Temple of the Sun on the Island of the Temple of the Sun on the Island of the Sun having been thrown in to the Sun having been thrown in to the water by the Inca to prevent the water by the Inca to prevent the Spanish from getting their hands on it.Spanish from getting their hands on it.

Eventually the story changed into a Eventually the story changed into a gold chain and later still into a gold chain and later still into a treasure.treasure.

Because the lake changes its depth Because the lake changes its depth from time to time piers, causeways from time to time piers, causeways and walls appear and disappear and walls appear and disappear leading to stories of sunken cities.leading to stories of sunken cities.

1966 Ramon Avellaneda carried out 1966 Ramon Avellaneda carried out underwater surveys. He reported underwater surveys. He reported semi- circular structures near shore. semi- circular structures near shore. These ruins were of Tiwanaku period.These ruins were of Tiwanaku period.

Based on the 1966 research Jacque Based on the 1966 research Jacque Cousteau organized an expedition in Cousteau organized an expedition in 1968. This revealed that the 1968. This revealed that the structures were piers and enclosures structures were piers and enclosures to protect boats from the wind.to protect boats from the wind.

Carols Ponce investigated in 1973. Carols Ponce investigated in 1973. confirmed presence of low walls and confirmed presence of low walls and a few potsherds.a few potsherds.

Illegal expedition by Japanese divers in Illegal expedition by Japanese divers in 1977 located carved stone boxes and 1977 located carved stone boxes and figurines including puma heads. They did figurines including puma heads. They did not reveal to Bolivian authorities where not reveal to Bolivian authorities where they had found the objects.they had found the objects.

1980 a team of American/Bolivian 1980 a team of American/Bolivian filmmakers made claims of roads, tunnels, filmmakers made claims of roads, tunnels, temples and a city underwater at the temples and a city underwater at the island of Koa.island of Koa.

Various international teams Various international teams examined various reported sites in examined various reported sites in 1981, 1985 and 1988.1981, 1985 and 1988.

In 1988 a legitimate Japanese In 1988 a legitimate Japanese expedition mapped several expedition mapped several underwater features and recovered underwater features and recovered several stone boxes, figurines, several stone boxes, figurines, pottery and shaped stones.pottery and shaped stones.

1990 expedition American/Bolivian 1990 expedition American/Bolivian Navy mapped the waters around Navy mapped the waters around various islands.various islands.

In addition to boxes, figurines, intact In addition to boxes, figurines, intact Tiwanaku incense burners and a gold Tiwanaku incense burners and a gold Inca female figure were recovered.Inca female figure were recovered.

1991 additional gold and silver items 1991 additional gold and silver items were recovered near Koa.were recovered near Koa.

Gold pendant has figure of “Gateway Gold pendant has figure of “Gateway God” of Tiwanaku. Two small gold God” of Tiwanaku. Two small gold statues of males (non-Inca) statues of males (non-Inca) recovered.recovered.

2000 Reports were made of lost city 2000 Reports were made of lost city and walls. The same that were earlier and walls. The same that were earlier found to be natural. found to be natural.

2004 International expedition 2004 International expedition discovers more objects.discovers more objects.

2009 UTube film reports that Google 2009 UTube film reports that Google Earth reveals entire lake filled with a Earth reveals entire lake filled with a city.city.

No evidence of a city, but plenty of No evidence of a city, but plenty of evidence that natural ridges and evidence that natural ridges and causeways between some islands were causeways between some islands were intermittently exposed or submerged.intermittently exposed or submerged.

Rituals were likely performed on these Rituals were likely performed on these ridges leading to items being deposited ridges leading to items being deposited or tossed into the waters in Pre Inca or tossed into the waters in Pre Inca periods and even during Inca reign.periods and even during Inca reign.