Yamdroktso Lake


Yamdroktso (or Yamdrok Yumtso), one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet, lies at Nhagartse, located
about 100 kilometers (62 miles) to the southwest of Lhasa. It is an outflowing lake which is
connected with the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

Yamdroktso takes a shape of paper fan and stretches roughly from northwest to southeast, while
the south is wide and the north is narrow. Along the lake, there are many branches of the lake
winding their way into the mountains. There is lush pasture around the lake with an area of 10
million square hectares and is one of the most famous pasturelands in Tibet.

Yamdroktso has an elegant view and it is said that a fairy maiden left the Heaven and turned into the lake on earth. There are more than 10 islands
in the lake, the large ones can hold 5 to 6 households while the small ones are only 100 square meters or so.

The deepest point is 60 meters. To the interior of the lake ten or so hilly islands stand independently one from the other which give homes to flocks
of wild ducks. A lot of colorful ducks and geese are swimming on the surface of the lake. There is also plenty of natural fodder for the fish in the
lake. The lake has a fish reserve of about 300 million kilograms. That is why it is called "the Fish Store of Tibet". The coast of the lake is an ideal
pasture. All these make an intoxicating quite picture.

Yamdroktso is a salt lake of low consistency and it begins to freeze every mid-November and the ice can be as thick as 0.5 meter. The lake
abounds in small scale fishes, Tibetan fish, plateau carps etc, with an yearly production about 200 to 300 million kilograms. Every winter flocks of
birds are flying here from the south. Along the banks and on the islands there are large numbers of swans, pigeons, yellow ducks, cormorants and
barhead goose.

The holy lake is also a pilgrimage site for Tibetans. Every summer, gangs of pilgrims trek there to pray
and receive blessings. Pilgrims believe that its water can make the old young again, grant the middle-
aged a longer life and make the children smarter. Being a sacred lake, the color of its water may be taken
by the devout as having spiritual meaning. Tibetans will usually visit the lake before making important
decisions. On one of the islets, stands a Nyinmapa monastery.