Beautiful top 10 holy lakes in Tibet

If you travel to Tibet, do not miss the holy lakes in Tibet. It is hard to introduce every lake in Tibet as the number is as much as 1,000 with an area of some 23,800 square meters, but it is easy to list the top ten lakes.

In Tibetan language, "Co" means "lake", which is believed to be reincarnations of deities according to local fairy tales. As a song goes: "The lake water scattered about the highland is a tear lying on the surface of the earth."

In Tibet, where the air is pure and the landscape is magnificent, the lake is visualized as a summons from the deities, a pray from the believers and a glimpse of hope in the heart of Tibetan people. People who have been living on the plateau from generation to generation believe that the lake is the avatar of deity, determining people’s destinies and the vicissitudes of the world.

1. Heart of the world: Lake Mapam Yumco

Location: 35 kilometers east of the Burang County in Ngari Prefecture, western Tibet, and 20 kilometers southeast to Mt. Kailash，which is known as "Mother of Iceberg"

Area: 320 square meters

Altitude: 4,556 meters

Type: Freshwater lake

2. Heavenly lake: Namtso

Area: 1,920 square meters

Altitude: 4,718 meters

Type: Saltwater lake

Boasting one of the greatest lakes in Tibet, Natmso Co is also the largest saltwater lake with the highest altitude in the world.

The Natmso Lake is surrounded by four monasteries in the distance—the Tashi Boduoqie to the east, the Guerqiong Baima Monastery to the south, the Jiaduo Monastery to the west and the Qiatuo Monastery to the north, representing fury, anger, power and impact respectively.

On the wall of those monasteries, there bears a large number of Buddha figures which are taken shape naturally.

It is said that Natmso Co is the daughter of Indra and the mother of Mt. Nyainqentanglha, so it is a must-visit holy place for Buddhist believers since the ancient times.

3. Charming Yamzhog Yumco

Location: Nanggarze County, Lhoka Prefecture, southern Tibet, about 70 kilometers to the southwest of Lhasa.

Area: 678 square meters

Altitude: 4,441 meters

Type: Saltwater lake

4. Breathtaking Lake Dangra Yutso

Location: Nyema County, Nagqu Prefecture of Tibet

Area: 835.8 square meters

Altitude: 4,528 meters

Type: Saltwater lake

Tips: The best season to Lake Dangra Yutso is between July and September. With temperate and sunny weather, visitors can enjoy the lush plants and flowers as well as endless grassland during these seasons.

5. Jade-liked Lake Dangchung Tso

Location: In the southern part of Nyima County, Nagqu Prefecture in northern Tibet and to the north of Lake Dangra Yutso.

Area: 830.5 square meters

Altitude: 4,475 meters

Type: Saltwater lake

6. Paradise of birds: Pangong Tso Lake

Location: about 12 kilometers away from Turi County, Ngari Prefecture in the west of Tibet.

Area: 600 square meters

Altitude: 4,250 meters

Type: Fresh water in the east while salt water in the middle-west of the lake

7. Ghost lake: Lannga Co

Location: Within the Burang County, the Ngari Prefecture in the west of Tibet, just a bank from the Lake Mapam Yumco. The passage between the two lakes is the only way to get in or out of Burang.

Area: 268.5 square meters

Altitude: 4,572 meters

Type: Saltwater lake

8. God-given pasture: Zhari Namco

Location: In the northeast of Tsochen County, Burnag County, Ngari Prefecture in the west of Tibet, around 12 kilometers away from Tsochen County.

Area: 996.9 square meters

Altitude: 4,613 meters

Type: Saltwater lake

9. Mysteriously hidden Rinchen Xiubu Co

Location: In the north of Zhongbao County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet, and in the north ridge of Gangdise Mountains.

Area: 187.1 square meters

Altitude: 4,756 meters

Type: Saltwater lake

10. Palette endowed by the deity: Dagze Co

Location: In a garben basin in Nyema County, Nagqu Prefecture, northern Tibet, in the north of Changtang Grassland

Area: 244.7 square meters

Altitude: 4,459 meters

Type: Saltwater lake