PANGONG TSO (Pangong Lake)
ONE OF THE BEST DESTINATION IN
HEAVEN ON EARTH
HEAVEN ON EARTH
Pangong Tso Tibetan for "high grassland lake", also referred to as Pangong Lake, is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4,350 m (14,270 ft). It is 134 km (83 mi) long and extends from India to Tibet. Approximately 60% of the length of the lake lies in Tibet. The lake is 5 km (3.1 mi) wide at its broadest point. Altogether it covers 604 km2. During winter, the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water. It is not part of the Indus river basin area and geographically a separate landlocked river basin.
The lake is in the process of being identified under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance. This will be the first trans-boundary wetland in South Asia under the convention.
Pangong Tso is in disputed territory. The Line of Actual Control passes through the lake. A section of the lake approximately 20 km east of the Line of Actual Control is controlled by China but claimed by India. The eastern end of the lake is in Tibet. After the mid-19th century, Pangong Tso was at the southern end of the so-called Johnson Line, an early attempt the demarcation between India and China in the Aksai Chin region.
Magical Night
The Khurnak Fort lies on the northern bank of the lake, halfway of Pangong Tso. The Chinese have controlled the Khurnak Fort area since 1952. To the south is the smaller Spanggur Tso lake.
On October 20, 1962, Pangong Tso saw military action during the Sino-Indian War, successful for the People's Liberation Army.
Pangong Tso is still a delicate border point along the Line of Actual Control. Incursions from Chinese side are common.
