Our
next excursion was for Tso Pangong (Pangong Lake). Driving from Leh we crossed the Chang La pass to reach Pangong. We encountered summer snowfall on the
way
The road
downhill from Chang La - wet patches are from melting snow deposited by vehicle
wheels
A
gaggle of black-headed gulls greet visitors at the water’s edge at Tso Pangong.
One of the largest lakes in Ladakh, Pangong is more than 130km long and about
5km at its widest. A land-locked endorheic lake, The Pangong does not flow out into any river or
stream, water being lost only to evaporation and seepage. About 60% of the lake
lies in China
As
everywhere, the faithful build prayer columns beside the lake
Moving
on - Tso Kiagar, en route Tso Moriri
The
drive to Tso Moriri, through hills of slithering gravel
Tso
Moriri is reached mostly by following tracks. There are no roads, roadsigns
or residents to provide directions…
Chang
La top had the now-familiar gompa
(shrine) draped in prayer flags
An
army convoy began rolling out from the top as we parked
Onward
to Tso Pangong…
The
water of the lake changes hues with reflected light throughout the day…
There
are a few basic tented accommodations on the bank of the lake. The double-bedded
field tents are sturdy and well-secured to stand-up to the chilly winds that
blow down the hills and across the water. The wind carries pale dust as fine as
talcum powder, that is continuously deposited on all exposed surfaces
The rocks
are mossy, the water crystal clear and extremely salty. Evaporation
continuously increases the concentration of minerals in the water. The salinity
of the water is a surprise, given that we usually expect lakes to be freshwater
!
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