Parks & nature

While formal urban parks are limited, the entire district is a vast expanse of high-altitude natural beauty. Kargil sits in a cold desert environment, but the valleys fed by glacial meltwater are lush with willow and poplar trees. The nearby **Dras Valley** is internationally known as the second coldest inhabited place on Earth and features stark, dramatic landscapes. Wildlife in the broader region includes the Himalayan brown bear, snow leopards, marmots, and various migratory birds, protected in part by nearby sanctuaries and reserves.