Tiwanaku, La Paz, Pre-Columbian archaeological site near Lake Titicaca, Bolivia.
Tiwanaku is an archaeological settlement near Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, featuring stone monuments and decorated ceramics spread across a large area. The ruins sit at high elevation and display elaborate architecture with several platforms and structures connected by stone passageways and ceremonial spaces.
The settlement grew between 375 and 700 AD from a small outpost into a regional power that spread across western Bolivia, southern Peru, and northern Chile. The civilization later declined, but its influence shaped the Andean societies that followed.
The semi-submerged temple displays 175 carved stone heads representing deities and ancestors, reflecting how people here viewed and honored their spiritual world. The Gateway of the Sun served as a sacred passage, marking important ceremonial moments in the community's religious calendar.
Two museums on site display pottery and stone monuments from the settlement. The high elevation means visitors should take time to adjust to the altitude, and good walking shoes are important for exploring uneven paths between the structures.
The inhabitants developed a sophisticated farming system using raised fields separated by canals to grow potatoes and quinoa on the high plateau. This method allowed them to support larger populations in a harsh mountain environment where crops normally struggle to grow.
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