Which is the highest navigable lake in the world?

Lake Titicaca lies high in the Andes Mountains of South America, on the border between Peru and Bolivia. It is located at an altitude of about 3,812 metres (12,507 feet) above sea level. It is often described as the highest navigable lake in the world, meaning it is the highest lake on which large commercial boats and steamships can regularly travel.

Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America by volume of water. It covers an area of about 8,300 square kilometres and has a maximum depth of about 280 metres. It is fed by many rivers and by rain and melting glaciers. Only one river, the Desaguadero, flows out of it, carrying a small part of its water south to Lake Poopó; most of its water is lost through evaporation.

The lake has great cultural and historical importance:

According to Inca legend, the first Inca, Manco Cápac, and the Sun god emerged from the waters of Lake Titicaca. The Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) on the Bolivian side has ancient ruins.

The Uros people live on floating islands made from bundles of totora reeds, which grow in the lake. They also use the reeds to make their houses and boats.

The ancient Tiwanaku civilisation flourished near its southern shore.

The lake is home to unique species, such as the Titicaca water frog, which is critically endangered.

Lake Titicaca is a Ramsar site (Wetland of International Importance) on both the Peruvian and Bolivian sides.

Other high-altitude lakes:

Pangong Tso: a brackish lake at about 4,225 metres on the border of Ladakh (India) and Tibet (China), about 134 kilometres long; about 60% of it lies in Tibet. It is not navigable by large ships.

Tso Moriri (Ladakh) and Gurudongmar Lake (Sikkim, at about 5,430 metres) are among India's highest lakes.

Lake Manasarovar (Tibet), a sacred lake at about 4,590 metres.

Other record lakes: Lake Baikal (deepest), the Caspian Sea (largest), Lake Superior (largest freshwater by area) and the Dead Sea (lowest).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Lake Baikal is the deepest lake.
• ✗Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa.
• ✗Pangong Tso is a high-altitude lake in Ladakh and Tibet, but not navigable by large vessels.