Tso Kar

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"Tso Kar"
View of Tso Kar
View of Tso Kar in Leh district (Ladakh)
Location of Tso Kar within Ladakh
Location of Tso Kar within Ladakh
"Tso Kar"
LocationLeh district, Ladakh, India
Coordinates33°18′N 77°59′E / 33.300°N 77.983°E / 33.300; 77.983
TypeOligotrophic lake
Primary inflowsPholokongka Chu
Primary outflowsnone
Max. length7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi)
Max. width2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi)
Surface area22 km2 (8.5 sq mi)
Surface elevation4,530 metres (14,860 ft)
Official nameTso Kar Wetland Complex
Designated17 November 2020
Reference no.2443[1]

The Tso Kar[2] or Tsho kar is a fluctuating salt lake known for its size and depth situated in the Rupshu Plateau and valley in Leh district in the southern part in Union Territory of Ladakh in India.[3]It is located 102 km from Leh City, the capital of Ladakh. It is also recognised as India's 42nd Ramsar site.[4]

Etymology

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The name Tso Kar refers to the white salt efflorescence on the margins of the lake caused by the evaporation of the saline waters.

Geography

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Tsokar settlement. 2010
Wildass Homestay, Tsokar Lake. 2010
Tibetan Argali Homestay, Tsokar

The Tso Kar is connected by an inlet stream at its south-west end to a small lake, Startsapuk Tso, and together they form the 9 km2 More plains pool, which is dominated by the peaks of two mountains, Thugje (6050 m) and Gursan (6370 m). From the geology of the More Plains, it can be concluded that the Tso Kar in historical times ranged up to this high valley. Until a few years ago the lake was an important source of salt, which the Changpa nomads used to export to Tibet. The nomadic settlement of Thugje is located 3 km in the north. There is a tented camp on the west bank of the lake which provides accommodation for tourists.[5][6] More plains pool (Tso Kar-Startsapuk Tso) Ramsar wetland site in India is a high-altitude wetland complex, found at more than 4,500 metres above sea level in the Changthang region of Ladakh. It includes two connected lakes, the freshwater Startsapuk Tso and the larger hypersaline Tso Kar. The primary source of lakes is glacial meltwater.

In relation to Tso Kar, other places in Changtang plateau are Miru (Meroo) on Leh–Manali Highway to the northwest, Pongunagu on northwest shore, Thukje on northeast shore, Giu (not to be confused with Gya which lies north of Miroo) on western shore and Chutak on southwest shore.

Climate

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Due to the high altitude, the climate is extreme in the winter; temperatures below -40 °C (-40 °F) are not uncommon. In the summer the temperature rises above 30 °C (86 °F), with extreme fluctuations during the day. Precipitation in the form of either rain or snow is extremely rare.[5]

Ecology

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Wild kiang near Tso Kar Lake

Flora

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The inlets of the Tso Kar are a source of non-saline water; pondweeds and basic nettles grow there, forming floating islands of vegetation in the spring and dying off in the winter. Sedge and large numbers of buttercups grow on the shores of Startsapuk Tso and of the tributaries of the Tso Kar, while some parts of the high basin are marked by steppe vegetation interspersed with tragacanth and pea bushes. The shore of Tso Kar is partly covered with a salt crust, which keeps vegetation away from the inflows.

Fauna

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Tso Kar is an important stopover ground for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway. It is one of the most important breeding areas in India for the black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis). Some of the species found here are endangered saker falcon (Falco cherrug) and Asiatic wild dog or dhole (Cuon alpinus laniger), and the vulnerable snow leopard (Panthera uncia).

Due to the salinity of the Tso Kar, most of the resident fauna is found in its tributaries and in Startsapuk Tso. There are large breeding colonies of grebes and brown-headed gulls, and some bar-headed geese, ruddy shelducks and terns. In the vicinity of the lake black-necked cranes and Tibetan grouse are relatively common.

The basin of the Tso Kar and the adjoining More Plains constitute one of the most important habitats of the kiang, Tibetan gazelles, Tibetan wolves and foxes; there are himalayan marmots in the higher reaches. Yaks and horses are kept by nomads.[7][8]

Conservation

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Currently the lake basin has no special protection, but there are plans to include it within a national park which may be established in the highlands of south-eastern Ladakh.[7][9]

ISRO station

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Human Outer Planet Exploration (HOPE) station at Tso Kar, developed by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Bengaluru-based space tech company Protoplanet for India’s human space exploration, is a space analogue station, which mimics conditions on the Moon and Mars and aimed at carrying out "research for future crewed interplanetary journeys". This location was sselected because it has conditions which are "closest to a planet or planetary body with regard to the topography, environment, etc. These stations usually act as testing grounds for relevant technologies, help advance technology readiness levels (TRL) and engineering integration, and facilitate human studies, crew training and research around geological, geomorphological, habitability, and life detection." There are 33 such stations across the world. In August 2025, India began its first ever space simulation at this station in which 2 crew in space suit stayed inside the station for the further research and development.[10]

Indian Astronomical Observatory at Hanle is another space exploration station in Ladakh.

Transport

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See also: Transport to Changthang Plateau

The Tso Kar lies 160 km south of Leh; the Leh Manali road passes 30 km west of it. The lake is 540 km east of Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir union territory.[7][9] You can get taxis from Leh to reach Tso Kar Lake at a distance of 250 kilometers.

From Miru (Meroo) on Leh–Manali Highway, the western and southern shores of Tso Kar can be reached by taking Meroo-Giu-Chutak Road, and the northern and easter shores can be reached by taking Meroo-Pongunagu-Thukje-Mahe-Nyoma road.

Panoramic view of Tsokar lake.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Tso Kar Wetland Complex". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Location of Tso Kar". geonames.org. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  3. ^ Dharma Pal Agrawal; Brij Mohan Pande (1976). Ecology and Archaeology of Western India: Proceedings of a Workshop Held at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, Feb. 23-26, 1976. Concept Publishing Company, 1977. p. 239–. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Ladakh's Tso Kar wetland complex added to list of Ramsar sites". The Times of India. 25 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Tso Kar, Jammu and Kashmir Tourism". spectrumtour.com. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  6. ^ Dharma Pal Agrawal; Brij Mohan Pande (1977). Ecology and Archaeology of Western India: Proceedings of a Workshop Held at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, Feb. 23-26, 1976. Concept Publishing Company, 1977. p. 239–. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  7. ^ a b c Ganesh Pangare; Vasudha Pangare; Binayak Das (2006). Springs of Life: India's Water Resources. Academic Foundation, 2006. p. 54–. ISBN 978-81-7188-489-6. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  8. ^ Patricia Des Roses Moehlman; IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group (2002). Equids: Zebras, Asses, and Horses IUCN/SSC action plans for the conservation o biological diversity Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan SSC species action plans. IUCN, 2002. p. 76–. ISBN 978-2-8317-0647-4. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  9. ^ a b Brijraj Krishna Das (2008). Lakes: water and sediment geochemistry. Satish Serial Pub. House, 2008. p. 121–. ISBN 978-81-89304-54-6. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  10. ^ ‘Mars’ in Ladakh—2 scientists enter space bubble to test human endurance for interplanetary missions, The Print, 1 Aug 2025.
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Literature

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  • Kashmir Ladakh Manali – The Essential Guide Partha S. Banerjee, Kolkata: Milestone Books 2010, ISBN 978-81-903270-2-2