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Floating Island
Johanna Marcela Garavito Morales
Series description

Totora is a giant bulrush sedge subspecies from South America. On Lake Titicaca in Peru, the indigenous Uru people use it to make boats, houses and even the floating islands upon which they live.

Biography

I'm Johanna Marcela Garavito Morales, I'm 34 years, I'm from Cali Colombia, I'm a lover of coffee, nature, birds, biodiversity, accents and the landscapes of my country. I'm a Veterinarian from the University of Caldas, Veterinary Imaging Specialist from the CES University and that is my professional passion but I complement this passion by traveling and photographing everything that has great meaning to me. I live in Mexico, a country that has all kinds of cultural, gastronomic wealth, etc. To this day I can only say that I am a lover of life.
Mystical
The totora plant is the main material used in the construction of the Uros people’s floating islands.
© Johanna Marcela Garavito Morales, Colombia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards
From Cat-tail to Duck
The Uros spend months creating wonders with their hands, giving their islands unparalleled beauty.
© Johanna Marcela Garavito Morales, Colombia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards
The Island of the Floating Church
An adventist church built by the Uros on Lake Titicaca.
© Johanna Marcela Garavito Morales, Colombia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards
Reed Boat
It can take between three to eight months to build a boat by hand from the reeds, but the resulting vessel can be useful for up to eight years.
© Johanna Marcela Garavito Morales, Colombia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards
Floating Island
The Uros build their houses on reed platforms in the lake.
© Johanna Marcela Garavito Morales, Colombia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards
Floating House
The most remarkable thing about each house is that it is made entirely by hand. The totora is woven to make each construction resistant to the wind.
© Johanna Marcela Garavito Morales, Colombia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards
View of Titicaca from the Island
All of the islands have a magnificent view of the lake; you can see the sunrise and the sunset. The totora reed is not only used to build platforms, houses and crafts - it is also eaten, brewed as tea and used for medicinal purposes.
© Johanna Marcela Garavito Morales, Colombia, Shortlist, Professional competition, Architecture & Design, 2023 Sony World Photography Awards