Tia Fern

Hello Tia,
I am the niece, conceived on a cold night high above Lake Titicaca. As you may know, Lake Titicaca lies in the Andes Mountains on the border of Bolivia and Perú at an altitude of 3,810 m. (12506 ft.). It is the world's highest lake that can be navigated by large vessels. The Lake is 177 Km. (110mi) long and has an average width of 56 km (35mi). Covering an area of about 8,300 sq km (3200sq mi), it is fed by more than 25 tributaries and drained by the small Rio Desaguadero.
A small southeastern basin called Uinamarca is linked with the northwestern part, Chucuito, by the narrow Strait of Tiquina. This in turn moderates the local climate to allow cultivation of crops not usually grown at such high altitudes--corn,barley,quinoa and potatoes. Only two indigenous species of fish, killfish and catfish, inhabit the lake. Trout were introduced in 1939. I tell you this, just in the case that you may need to know this valuable information one day.
Though I have learned to speak English, my first language is, of course, espanol. For this reason, I sometimes slip up and call you Tia Fern, and refer to myself as Prima Isabella, rather than the English version of Aunt Fern and Cousin Isabella. And to you, my dear tia, I am your only sobrina of such origins.
Life in the high Andes brought to me special circumstances, far too lengthy to detail here.
Tia Fern, I am so happy to find you again. I will collect my questions, my ponderings on life, and will certainly send them on to you soon!
con carino,
Prima Isabella