Namtso Lake is located on the Tibetan Plateau in China, covering an area of 1,940 km2. Situated at an elevation of 4,718 meters above sea level, it is considered the highest saltwater lake in the world. Namtso Lake is over 900 meters higher than Lake Titicaca in South America, the highest freshwater lake globally. The Tibetan people refer to the lake as Namuchua, while the Mongolian locals call it Thângcơlihai, meaning “Lake of Heaven” or “Sea of Heaven.” Although there are higher lakes in the world, they are significantly smaller in size.
Namtso Lake is located north of Lhasa city. The lake’s shores are lush with grasslands, providing pasture for livestock year-round. The water is crystal clear, allowing visibility of the lakebed, and the fish found here include small-scaled and scaleless varieties that are both fatty and delicious.
(Photo: alumnus.caltech)
