DESPITE BEING
KNOWN FOR IT’S
MOUNTAINS,
THE TIBETAN POLE
IS COVERED IN LAKES
.
LOCKED AWAY IS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE WORLDS FRESHWATER OUTSIDE OF THE POLES. WITH MOST OF IT BEING ABOVE 4000m MEANING MUCH OF IT IS IS FROZEN MOST OF THE TIME, BUT A GLANCE OVER SATELLITE IMAGES SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH THERE IS.
A LOT OF THESE LAKES FORM NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS WITH HUGE POTENTIAL FOR KAYAK & RAFT TRIPS, EVEN USING BOATS AS PART OF ACCESS TO CLIMBING PEAKS. MANY LAKES ARE FED DIRECTLY OFF GLACIERS LEADING INTO 6000m MASSIFS, AND TOWARDS THE END OF SUMMER THEMSELVES FEED INTO OTHER LAKES – SOMETIMES EVEN CHANGING DIRECTION OF FLOW OVER A SEASON.
ONE REASON TO VISIT THE POLAR LAKES OF TIBET IS TO WITNESS THE ANIMAL LIFE THAT LIVES AROUND THEM. ENORMOUS COLONIES OF MIGRATING BIRDS, ANNUAL MIGRATIONS OF ANTELOPE, LARGE MAMMALS LIKE CAMELS, BEARS, YAKS & HORSES CAN GRAZE SURROUNDING SEASONAL PASTURE.
WHERE ANIMALS CAN GO SO DO THE PEOPLE THAT RELY ON THEM, WITH NOMADIC GROUPS FOLLOWING THE SEASONAL GRASSLAND WITH THEIR HERDS AND HUNTERS TRAVELLING LARGE DISTANCES. THESE CENTURIES-OLD LIFESTYLES HAVE LEFT A REMARKABLE CULTURE ALONG TIBETS HIGHER LAKES, OFTEN REGARDING THEM AS SACRED AND HAVING LOCAL SHRINES ON THEIR SHORES.
