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The Tso Morari Lake is one of the largest lakes in
Ladakh region and is
almost like an inland sea, Situated at an elevation of about 4,900m, this
lake has a length of about 22-kms, width varying from 5 to 7-kms and a
depth of more than 30m at the deepest point.
The lake looks like probably a leftover from the ice age, formed by the
melt waters of the ice masses left behind by the retreating glaciers. The
waters from the surrounding areas drained into the lake. The huge amounts
of water present at the outset evaporated very fast in the desert-like
atmosphere and what had been initially fresh water became brackish and
finally salty. The water is unfit for human consumption.
In winter the surface of the Tso Morari Lake freezes and it is possible
for animals and human beings to walkover it. Karzok is situated near this
lake.
One of the most spectacular lakes in Ladakh is the Pangong
Tso, which lies across the Changla Pass from
Leh . At an
altitude of almost 4,500 meters, the Pangong Tso is only 8-km wide at its
broadest but is an amazing 134-km long. The Pangong is considered to be
the longest lake in Ladakh.
Pangong is a saltwater lake and a remnant from the ice age, probably
formed by the dead ice masses left behind. In the dry atmosphere, huge
amounts of water quickly evaporated and the freshwater lake turned
brackish and finally salty.
This lake sprawls over both Ladakh and Tibetan territory. The lake is
bisected by the international border between India and Tibet (China). Most
of the fresh water enters the lake from the Tibetan side.
A Delightful Sight
The Pangong is a delight to the eye. The golden colored range to the
north, with its rolling spurs culminating in chiseled peaks, spreads
before ones eyes in a panorama of spectacular dimensions. With its almost
2,000-sq-kms of turquoise water and a depth of 100 meters, Pangong can
baffle the eye, for in the rarefied atmosphere distant objects appear to
be right next door.
This is a small lake situated about 10-km to the north of
the Tso Morari (also spelt as Tsomorari) Lake. It has a length of about
3-km and a width of 1.5-km, with a maximum depth of 22m. The water is
brackish and is not fit for human consumption. This lake is the halting
place for trekkers moving from the Kiangdum camping ground to the
Tsomorari Lake.
Go Camping!
Kiangdum is a famous camping ground about 22-km to the south of Kyaghr
Lake. It is on the route from Ladakh to Spiti in
Himachal Pradesh .
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