Explorers attempt the world’s first circumnavigation by kayak of Lake Titicaca, the largest lake of South America. They’ll follow the shore in order to take scientific measurements and raise awareness of the lake, which is in danger due to water pollution, as well as for the population living around it.
On 16 of August, departing from Puno in Peru on the shore of Lake Titicaca, two explorers will start kayaking around Lake Titicaca for an expedition that should last around 6 weeks. They plan to follow the 1100km coastline to take GPS points of the current shore’s position. The shore can indeed retreat in the future if not enough water is feeding the lake and the normal evaporation of the lake increases. They will also take photos in order to create the first photographic inventory of the lake’s shore that would be used in the future to compare coastal evolution. The same way we do today for the retreat of the glaciers. The lake is subject to heavy pollution from chemicals from industries poisoning the lake. Most cities in Peru and Bolivia around the lake have no water treatment plants or insufficient sewage and all waste flows directly to the lake or via streams or rivers.
The two explorers want to film the adventure and focus on raising awareness of the problems of the lake. They will discuss with the locals who suffer already from water contamination or the retreat of the shore in certain parts of the lake. Proper investments and technology coming from the richer countries would help to stop the contamination.
Paddling the lake has its set of challenges as the lake is at high altitude (3810m) and it is now winter. The wind on the lake in August can change from direction any time. Some areas between the two countries are also used for drug dealers and contraband.
Expedition leader, Belgian explorer Louis-Philippe Loncke is a member of the Explorers Club, a London 2012 Olympic torchbearer and ambassador for the Jane Goodall institute Belgium.
Peruvian Gadiel Sanchez Rivera, is notable for being the guide of the “Walking the Amazon” expedition. He walked 2 years with Brit Ed Stafford along the Amazon River. The documentary “Walking the Amazon” has been seen on Discovery Channel in 100 countries.
Louis-Philippe says: “Like most of the people, I had no idea that one of the most iconic lake of the planet is in danger, hence the people living around it. There are numerous articles about the problems but it feels like it never gets proper attention. We need to help the towns by building infrastructures to treat water now before it’s too late.”
The expedition carries a flag from the Explorers Club and is sponsored by partners providing essential gear: Kayaks rented by Edgar Adventures, sunglasses by Julbo eye-wear, solar power by Powertraveller and carbon paddles by Select Paddles.
Follow their blog here and keep up to date on how the expedition is going.
