The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Sur l'altiplano, balayé par un vent glacial et violent, l'agriculture n'est pas possible. Les indigènes se consacrent à l'élevage. D'immenses troupeaux d'alpacas paissent dans ces étendues sans limite où l'eau gèle même au milieu de la journée. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
L'un des abris sous roche de Pizacoma (département de Puno) est orné de peintures qui représentent une scène de chasse à la vigogne et qui auraient une antiquité d'environ 10’000 ans.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Entre les scènes peintes des abris sous roche de Pizacoma figurent des signes géométriques dont la signification exacte nous échappe.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Le lama joue un grand rôle dans la vie économique des populations de la Cordillère des Andes. Sa laine est utilisée à la confection d'étoffes. Avec ses os et ses tendons les indigènes fabriquent toute une gamme d'instruments d'utilisation courante. Sa viande, séchée, est consommée avec des pommes de terre et du maïs. C'est le charki déjà à la mode durant l'époque précolombienne. - Près de Taraco, province de Huancané, Puno - Région du lac Titicaca. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Au centre du lac Titicaca se trouvent des îles flottantes artificielles sur lesquelles vivent des indigènes appelés Urus. Ce sont des métis qui parlent l'aymara et qui se consacrent surtout à la pêche. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Depuis l'arrivée des Occidentaux sur sol américain, les Indiens ont appris à élever les chèvres et les moutons qu'ils font paître sur les grands pâturages de l'altiplano. - Près du lac Titicaca entre Taraco et Huancané. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Le lac Titicaca est une véritable mer continentale. Les animaux domestiques n'hésitent pas à entrer dans l'eau pour se nourrir des plantes aquatiques qui sont très riches en protéines. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Les Indiens qui vivent sur les rives du lac Titicaca utilisent un bateau en jonc, la balsa, qu'ils confectionnent eux-mêmes et qui leur permet de circuler aisément sur les eaux. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Le marché aux bestiaux de Huancané, près du lac Titicaca, attire chaque dimanche des milliers de paysans de la montagne venus des quatre points cardinaux. - 1969

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
La chaquitaclla ou bèche incaique est encore en usage de nos jours parmi les populations de l'altiplano. - Hacienda San Juan de Chuquibambilla, Puno. - 1969

An indigenous man in the Altiplano of Peru plays the zampoña with a dreamy expression; its sounds (perhaps a ‘Yaraví’ or a ‘Triste’?) seem to capture all the melancholy of the vast expanse and solitude. - Book: Picture 6 - Peru - 1976

This photograph shows a ceremony for Pachamama, which was held at 4 am at -17 °C. The offerings consist of coca leaves, salt, brandy, chicha, cigarettes and food (Puno Department, Peru). - Book: Picture 111 - Peru - 1969

Nothing illustrates the economic and social diversity better than farming methods. Whilst tractors are used in some areas, the indigenous people on their small farms still work the fields in a way that has not changed since the time of the Incas. - This image shows the breaking up of the soil with the taclla, an agricultural tool originating in the Peruvian Andes. It is essentially a long-handled spade that the Incas have used since ancient times. Its shape allows it to be pushed with the foot into hard ground. - Book: Picture 90 - Peru - 1976

The church of San Juan de Chuquibambilla near Ayaviri, in the department of Puno, at an altitude of approximately 3,900 metres. - Book: Picture 95 - Peru - 1976

Photo taken in the Peruvian Altiplano in winter. An indigenous woman with a child in the Department of Puno. She is collecting dried llama or cow dung to use as fuel. - Book: Picture 93 - Peru - 1976

An indigenous woman cooking with her child on her back. She uses dried llama or cow dung as fuel and stokes the embers with a blowpipe. Puno Department, Peru. - Book: Picture 117 - Peru - 1976

Lake Titicaca, situated at an altitude of 3,812 metres and straddling the border between Peru and Bolivia, is fifteen times the size of Lake Constance. It fills a tectonically formed highland depression, is divided into several sub-basins by peninsulas and dotted with islands (Amantani, Moon Island, Sun Island, etc.). Two species of rush thrive on its shores, from which the indigenous people build their boats as well as floating dwellings. - Book: Picture 3 - Peru - 1969

An indigenous woman in a reed boat on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. As the lake is only a few metres deep over large areas, the indigenous people use a long pole for poling as well as the reed sail. The striking resemblance of these reed boats to depictions of papyrus boats in ancient Egyptian tombs, together with certain parallels between Mesoamerican cultures (for example, the Maya pyramids) and the culture of the Nile Valley, has given rise to the most daring hypotheses. Thus, a few years ago, Thor Heyerdahl attempted to cross the Atlantic in a papyrus boat. However, this does not disprove the assumption that similar environmental conditions and the inherent properties of the available materials must lead to analogous solutions. - Book: Picture 145 - Peru - 1969

A portal in the village of Juli on the south-western shore of Lake Titicaca, which was a religious centre during the colonial period. This is commemorated by a whole series of churches, whose rich interior decoration bears witness to their former splendour. - Book: Picture 132 - Peru - 1976

Photo Gallery