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Namtso Lake
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Namtso Lake, located 220km to the north
of Lhasa city, is the biggest and highest salty lake in
Tibet.
The lake covers an area of over 1940 square kilometers. It
is 4718 meters high, almost 7000 meters above sea level.
Forty kilometers to its south is the peak of Mt. Nyainqntanglha
ranges, to its north side is also a mountain range of Nyainqntanglha.
With the circumambience of vasty grassland, the heavenly
lake is also a fairyland for yaks, sheep, horses, wild donkeys,
rock goats, bears and other wild animals wandering around.
There are 5 islands in the lake that were thought to be
the incarnation of five Buddha. The biggest one is
over 1.2 square kilometers.
Namtso lake is respected by tibetan Buddhists as one of
the four holiest lakes and the seat of Paramasukha Chakrasamvara
by Buddhist pilgrims. Buddhists believe Buddhas, Bodhisattvas
and Vajras will assemble to hold religious meeting at Namtso
in the year of sheep on Tibetan calendar. Circumambulation
around the lake at the right moment equals 100 thousand
times of that in normal years. Hence thousands of Buddhists
come to the lakeside on pilgrimage to pay homage and pray
in the 5th and 6th month of the Tibetan calendar each
year.
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