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Context: Satellite images reveal China's military build-up near Pangong Lake, India's western border.

Details

About the lake:

• It is a 135-km long landlocked Saline lake
• It is a kind of endorheic Lake– retains its water and does not allow outflow of its water to other external water bodies, such as oceans and rivers.
• It derives its name from the Tibetan word, “Pangong Tso”, which means “high grassland lake”.

Location

• Located on Ladakh Chinese border at an altitude of over 14,000 feet. Indian and China have around one-third and two-thirds of Pangong Tso Lake respectively.
• Line of Actual control passes through it.

Characteristics

• It is one of the world's highest brackish water lakes, situated at a height of 4350 meters.
• During the winter, the lake surface freezes completely.
• Pangong Lake is its ability to change colours. The lake showcases different shades of blue, green, and sometimes even red, depending on the angle of the sunlight and the weather conditions.
• The Karakoram Mountain range, which crosses Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and India, with heights of over 6,000 metres including K2, the world’s second highest peak, ends at the north bank of Pangong Tso.

Wildlife

• There are some species of scrubs and perennial herbs grow in the marshes around the sea.
• The lake acts as an important breeding ground for the variety of birds including migratory birds.
• During summer, the Bar Headed Geese and Brahmini ducks are commonly seen here.
• Freshwater snails of genes Radix also found in the Pangong Lake.

Other Facts

Pangong Tso Lake is in the process of being designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention if declared this will be the first trans-boundary wetland in South Asia under the convention.

Sources:

FastPost

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.With reference to Pangon Tso lake consider the following ? 1.The Line of Actual Control (LAC) passes through the lake. 2.Recently it has been designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A.1 only B.2 only C.Both 1 and 2 D.Neither 1 nor 2 Answer A