Rawo-tso Lake

A Brief Introduction to Rawo-tso Lake

Rawo-tso Lake is situated in the southwest of Baxiu County in Changdu prefecture of Tibet. It is a barrier lake formed because of a river clogging resulting from landslides and mud-rock flows. The altitude of the lake surface is 3,850 meters. Rawo-tso Lake covers an area of 22 square meters and it is the largest lake in the east of Tibet.

Legend of Rawo-tso Lake

In Tibetan, Ranwo-tso represents "a lake piled up with corpses". It got its name due to a legend. According to the legend, there were once a water buffalo in the lake and a cattle on the lakeshore. They fought each other fiercely and died in the end. After they died, their corpses became two mountains. In the middle of the two mountains is the very Rawo-tso Lake.

Attractions of Rawo-tso Lake

Rawo-tso Lake is famous near and far for its tranquility and blue. Dead branches or wastes are hardly seen in the lake. Rawo-tso Lake is quite rich in colors. Grassland, forest, autumn leaves, and white water birds and varicolored pebbles are reflected in the clear lake, just like a beautiful picture.

Ranwu-tso Lake is surrounded by many scenic highlights: the snow mountain in the southwest, the Azhagongla Glacier in the south and the Bosula Peak in the northeast. The melted snow and ice supply the lake with sufficient water. They are also the important source of many rivers such as Yarlong Tsangpo. The green grassland around the lake, the sky-blue lake water and the white snow mountains constitute a very pretty watercolor. Long and narrow Amucuo Lake shrinks westwards and finally became a river valley. Its water takes on different colors in different seasons of a year and the water surface is dotted with isles or reefs.

Many of the peaks surrounding the Rawo-tso Lake are over 5,000 meters high and thus are permanently locked with glaciers. The foot of these peaks, however, is green with pines and cypresses. Rawo-tso Lake is especially womanish and tranquil in the arms of the peaks. Her beauty goes beyond words. The browsing herds of cattle and sheep, the barley paddy, bean and cabbage field form an oil painting that can be seen no elsewhere.