Highest-altitude shipwreck

The highest-altitude shipwreck is the Aurora del Titicaca, an iron-hulled passenger ferry which sank in 1876 after hitting rocks near the island of Amantaní in the Peruvian portion of Lake Titicaca, which is situated 3,812 m (12,506 ft) above sea level. At the time of the sinking, numerous dignitaries were on board the ill-fated schooner.

Originally built by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd in Scotland, UK, the Aurora del Titicaca was one of several British steamships that were dismantled, carried on the back of mules over the Andes mountains and rebuilt on the shores of the lake. The vessel measured 48 feet (14.6 m) long and 10.5 feet (3.2 m) wide.

Fragments of the ship were discovered in 2002; it is believed that the main hull fell into a trench in much deeper water.

On the Andean border between Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is considered the highest commercially navigable lake. Its surface area covers approximately 8,300 km² (3,200 sq mi) and it has an average depth of between 140–180 m (460–590 ft), i.e., deep enough for the safe passage of commercial vessels.