Lake Titicaca lies on a plateau known as the Altiplano which is made up of multiple basins. The western part of the lake lies in the Puno region of Peru (approx. 56 % of the lake) while the east part lies in the La Paz department in Bolivia (approx. 44 % of the lake).

In the desolate Andes plateau, Lake Titicaca serves as a source of drinking water and food for the surrounding population and, as such, is vital for their existence. The body of water creates a beneficial microclimate that makes the cultivation of potatoes and grains (barley, corn and quinoa) possible at that altitude. Next to farming, animal husbandry of alpacas, llamas, sheep and cows is also of great significance.

Today approximately 2 million people live in the immediate vicinity of Lake Titicaca. This has put high demands on all of the resources of the lake, the shore areas and the adjoining land. Settlement pressure has risen enormously in the past years. The water requirements and the amount take from the larger tributaries (Ramis, Ilave, Coata, Huancane, Suchez and Katari) have risen dramatically, causing the lake’s water level to drop continually. Dry shore areas mean a loss of habitat and spawning and nesting places for many animal species.