Lakes

Xizang boasts the largest number of lakes in China. There are some 1,500 lakes covering a total area of 23,800 square km, about 30 percent of the nation's total lake area. They include the Nam Co, Serling Co and Zhari Nam Co, each covering an area of over 1,000 square km; 47 lakes each covering more than 100 square km; and 787 others each covering more than one square km. The lakes in Xizang can also be divided into following categories: exorheic, endorheic and inland in-take lakes according to water systems; freshwater, salty water and salt lakes according to chemical division; and structural, glacier lakes formed as a result of glacier activity and barrier lakes formed after mud-rock flows and landslides blocked the river course. There are many salt lakes in Xizang, a rough calculation showing about 251 of them covering a total area of 8,000 square km; surrounding these salt lakes are pastures that are home to rare wildlife.

Most of the lakes in Xizang assume blue cover and are crystal clear. Large ones are complete with islets, home to many birds. The bird islet in Banggong Co Lake in western Ngari is the most famous.

Famous lakes in Xizang include the Nam Co, Basum Co, Yamzhog Yumco, Sengli Co, Mapang Yumco and Banggong Co lakes.

Nam Co Lake. The largest lake in Xizang, it is situated between Damxung County of Lhasa, the capital city of the Xizang Autonomous Region, and Bangoin County of Nagqu Prefecture. It is the second largest salt lake in China.

Basum Co Lake. Located in Gongbogyangda County, the lake, also called Co Gor, was listed as a "world tourist attraction" in 1997, rated as a State 4A tourist area in 2001, and listed as a State forest park in 2002.

Yumzhog Yumco Lake. As the largest inland lake in the northern Himalayas, it is also the largest habitat for migratory birds in southern Xizang. The Yumzhog Yumco Pump-Storage Power Station built by the lake is the highest of its kind in the world. Its power station, with a fall of 800-odd meters, is complete with a water pumping channel extending close to 6,000 meters, and four hydroelectric generating units with a combined capacity of 90,000 kW. It is located 110 km from Lhasa City.

Sengli Co Lake. It is the number one lake in the world in terms of ele-vation. Located in Zongba County's Lunggar Town-ship, it has an elevation of 5,386 meters. The water surface covers 92 square km. There are close to 1,000 lakes each at an elevation over 4,000 meters in Xizang. They include 17 above 5,000 meters, of which Sengli Co is the highest.

Mapang Yumco Lake. Located some 200 km from Shiquanhe Town in Burang County, this is the highest freshwater lake in the world. With blue, crystal clear water, it is known as a holy lake together with Kangrenboqe.

Banggong Co Lake. Located north of Ritog County seat, the bulk of the lake is located within Chinese territory, with a small part in Kashmir.

In Xizang, most of the lakes are tinged with religious meaning. Nam Co, Mapang Yumco and Yamzhog Yumco are mentioned as the three major holy lakes. In addition, the region boasts Lhamo Lha Co Lake which enjoys a special place in the Living Buddha reincarnation system of Tibetan Buddhism, Dangro Yumco which is the soul lake of Living Buddha Razheng, and Cona Lake.