PANGONG TSO LAKE

PRELIMS – MAPS

• Type: A 135 km long, saline, landlocked lake.
• Nature: It is an endorheic lake, meaning it doesn’t drain into other water bodies like rivers or oceans.
• Name: “Pangong Tso” is Tibetan for “high grassland lake.”

Location:

• Where: Located on the Ladakh-China border at over 14,000 feet.
• Division: One-third of the lake is in India, while two-thirds are in China.
• Strategic Importance: The Line of Actual Control (LAC) passes through the lake.

Characteristics:

• Altitude: At 4,350 meters, it is one of the highest brackish water lakes.
• Freezing: The lake freezes completely in winter.
• Color: It changes colors, showing blue, green, and sometimes red, depending on sunlight and weather.
• Surroundings: The Karakoram Mountain Range, which includes peaks like K2, ends at the lake’s north bank.

Wildlife:

• Vegetation: Marshes around the lake have scrubs and perennial herbs.
• Birdlife: It is a key breeding site for migratory birds like Bar-Headed Geese and Brahmini Ducks.
• Aquatic Life: Freshwater snails of the genus Radix are found in the lake.