The Highest Lakes in China

The Highest Lakes in China would like to introduce 9 of The Highest Lake in China for you, including the highest freshwater lake as well as the highest saltwater lake of this country. Some of them are very small with complicated geographical conditions; some are “big lakes” with varied titles.

Lhagba Pool
Lhagba Pool is a small but the highest lake in China. Located on the northeast slopes of Mount Everest, Tibet, it has an altitude of 6,368 meters. It is also the second highest lake in the world, only after the Ojos del Salada (6,390 meters above sea level) in Argentina

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Changtse Pool
The Changtse Pool, which located in the Changtse Glacier, Tibet, is the second highest lake in China with a height at 6,216 meters.

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Ridonglabo Lake
With a height of 5,801 meters above sea level, the Ridonglabo Lake is the 3rd highest lake in China and ranked 8th of the world. It is a small but typical moraine lake that located about 1.5 kilometers southwest of Ridonglabo Peak, Tibet.

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Karda Lake
Karda Lake, with a height of 5,643 meters, is also a typical moraine lake that located adjacent Ridonglabo Lake, at the lower end of the Karda Glacier, Tibet.

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Thukpe Dzingbu Pool
Situated near Mt Kailash, Tibet, Thukpe Dzingbu Pool is a very small and special lake, as due to the high altitude this lake kept frozen even during the summer time. It has a height of 5,563 meters.

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Senritso Lake - the Highest Outflow Freshwater Lake
Located in the northwest part of Zhongba County, Tibet, Senritso Lake is the Highest Outflow Freshwater Lake that with a height of 5,386 meters above sea level.

Covered a surface area of 83.8 square kilometers, water of this lake runs from north to south, flowing through Laiwu Zangbu and pouring into the upstream of Brahmaputra River.

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Namtso Lake – The 3rd and the Highest Saltwater Lake
With a height of 4,718 meters above sea level, covered a surface area of 1,920 km², Namtso Lake is the highest saltwater lake in China and also the highest lake in the world (among lakes with surface area above 1,000 sq. km).

Located on the border between Damxung County and Baingoin County, Tibet, Namtso Lake is renowned as one of the most beautiful places in the Nyainqêntanglha mountain range with pure clean water which reflected the color of the sky. Thus the local people named it Nam as in Tibetan language, Nam means “Sky”.

This lake is one of the 4 scared lakes of Tibetan Buddhism. There are 5 islands lie on the water, which is said that they are embodiments of gods. Every year, hundreds of thousands pilgrims come here to worship the Holy Spirit it represented.

Recommended Tour: 6 Days Lhasa and Nagqu Experience

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Lake Manasarovar
Lake Manasarovar  or Mapam Yumco is a fresh-water lake in Ngari, 2,000 km from Lhasa. It lies at 4,556 m above mean sea level, making it the highest fresh-water lake in the world. Like Mount Kailash, Lake Manasasarovar is a place of pilgrimage, and it is one of the 3 scared Lakes in Tibet, along with Namtso Lake and Yamdrok Lake.

The lake, in Hindu religious belief, the lake was first created in the mind of the Lord Brahma. It is also supposed to be the summer abode of swans. Considered as sacred birds, the swans represent wisdom and beauty. It attracts religious people from Tibet, India, Nepal, and the other neighboring countries.

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Yamdrok Lake
Yamdrok Lake is one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet, along with Namtso Lake and Lake Manasarovar. In Tibetan language, Yamdrok Lake means “jade lake” or “swam pool”. Surrounded by grand snow-capped mountains, this lake is fed by numerous small streams. With a height of 4,488 meters, it is the 9th highest lakes in China.

With an area of 621 square kilometers, this fan-shaped lake with vast lakeside grassland, is also a fertilized highland pasture. According to local mythology, Yamdrok Lake is the transformation of a goddess.

There are shoals of fish living in Yamdrok Yumtso lake, which are commercially exploited by local population. From April to October, fish caught from this lake are sold at markets in Lhasa. Besides, the lake's islands serve as rich pasture land to local herdmen.

Recommended Tour: 11 Days Travel through Tibet to Nepal