Tso Lhamo Lake

Tso Lhamo Lake
Tibet and Tso Lhamo Lake from the summit of the Dongkha La Pass
Tibet and Tso Lhamo Lake from the summit of the Donkia Pass, looking northwest as reported in Joseph Dalton Hooker's Himalayan Journals.
Location of Lhamo Lake
Location of Lhamo Lake
Tso Lhamo Lake
Location in Sikkim
Location of Lhamo Lake
Location of Lhamo Lake
Tso Lhamo Lake
Tso Lhamo Lake (India)
LocationNorth Sikkim, Sikkim, India
Coordinates28°00′33″N 88°45′19″E / 28.0091°N 88.7553°E / 28.0091; 88.7553
Primary inflowsGlacial
Basin countriesIndia
DesignationRestricted area
Max. depth5.5 m (18 ft)
Surface elevation6,210 m (20,370 ft)

Tso Lhamo lake is one of the highest lakes in the world, located at an altitude of 5,100 m (16,700 ft).[1][2] It is situated in Mangan district, Sikkim, India, about 4 km (2.5 mi) southwest of the international border with China. It is fed by waters from Zemu glacier, Kangtse glacier or Pauhunri glacier, and is the source of the Teesta river.

Joseph Dalton Hooker referred to the lake as Cholamoo lake.[3] Its name is also spelled Chho Lhamo[4] and Cholamu lake.[5]

Geography[edit]

Tso Lhamo Lake is a glacial, fresh-water lake located northeast of the Kangchenjunga range in a high plateau area connected with the Tibetan Plateau.[6][7]

The Gurudongmar Lake lies some 5 km (3.1 mi) to the west.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Highest Lakes Researching the highest lakes in the world |http://highestlakes.com/list.html
  2. ^ Romshoo, Shakil; Panigrahy, S.; Patel, J. G.; Parihar, J. S. (2012). "High Altitude Lakes of India". National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA) Atlas.
  3. ^ Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1854). Himalayan journals: or, Notes of a naturalist in Bengal, the Sikkim and Nepal Himalayas, The Khasia Mountains etc. London, England: John Murray, Albemarle Street. p. 125. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  4. ^ Das, Sujoy; Roy, Anuradha (2002). Sikkim : A Traveller's Guide. New Delhi, India: Sangam Books Ltd. p. 38. ISBN 978-81-7824-008-4. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  5. ^ Bisht, Ramesh Chandra (2008). International Encyclopaedia of Himalayas (5 Vols.). New Delhi, India: Mittal Publication. p. 18. ISBN 978-81-8324-265-3. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  6. ^ Negi, S.S. (1 April 2002). Himalayan Rivers, Lakes and Glaciers. New Delhi, India: Indus Publishing Company. p. 156. ISBN 978-81-85182-61-2. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
  7. ^ Choudhury, Maitreyee (2006). Sikkim: Geographical Perspectives. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publication. p. 10. ISBN 978-81-8324-158-8. Retrieved 27 November 2009.