Lhang-tso Lake

A Brief Introduction to Lhanag-tso Lake

Lhang-tso Lake is located in the Pulan County of Ngari area of Tibet on the elevation of 4,570 meters. It is a saltwater lake opposite to the freshwater holy lake - Mapam Yumco. This lake is called Ghost Lake which means poisonous black lake in Tibetan. Perhaps this is because that the water in the lake is salty and undrinkable. In fact, the holy lake - Mapam Yumco and Lhang-tso Lake were originally integrated. Later, due to the climate change of the this area, the lake shrank back and the water level descended, a long and narrow koppie dividing the lake into two parts - the holy lake Mapam Yumco and the Lhang-tso Lake.

Legend of Lhang-tso Lake

According to the legend, once a universe gate was set between the Lhang-tso Lake and the Mapam Yumco Lake which connecting the two lakes. Water in the holy lake - Mapam Yumco Lake was absolutely different from that of the Lhang-tso Lake: water in Mapam Yumco Lake was refreshing and sweet while water in the Lhang-tso Lake was quite bitter. This extreme difference aroused the symbolic meaning of Yidam embracing the Buddha – spirit of everything in the universe, even that of a small creature like a womb should be a harmonious unity. Good and evil are two antitheses but they can coexist in peace here. The Ghost Lake and the Holy Lake can coexist in peace under the same snow mountain without any hatred or wars. It reflects to some extant the idea of Buddhism.

Attractions of Lhang-tso Lake

Sceneries in the Lhang-tso Lake is quite beautiful. Therefore, many tourists would like to come to the lake and see what it is mystery. In fact, there are no plants on the lakefront, because the water in the lake is too salt and is not suitable for the plants' growth. It is said that there are billows three feet high even if there is no wind in the Ghost Lake.

Indeed, the sceneries here are extraordinarily charming. There are dark red hills on the lakefront and the colors are quite attracting. Standing on the side of the Lhang-tso Lake, not any people or any animals can be found in the wide open area, you may feel that you are standing on the edge of the universe, thus experiencing the greatness of nature and the smallness of human beings.

There is a kind of rare rock in the Lhang-tso Lake – ophiolite. Ophiolite is part of the Daba-Xiugugabu ophiolite zone and belongs to the southern subzone of the Yarlung Zangbo River ophiolite zone. The ophiolite has high value for scientific study and geological research.