Pangong Tso is an endorheic (landlocked) lake located in the Changtang plateau of the eastern Himalayas. It is approximately 134 kilometers (83 miles) long and 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) wide at its broadest point. The lake's basin is entirely closed, meaning it has no outlet to rivers or oceans. Despite being believed to have once been part of the Indus River system, geological shifts eventually cut off its outflow.
The geography is distinctly barren and rugged, characterized by a high-altitude desert environment. The lack of vegetation on the surrounding mountains contrasts sharply with the deep blue waters of the lake. The water itself is highly alkaline and saline, which prevents most aquatic life from surviving; it is practically devoid of fish or large aquatic plant life, save for a few species of small crustaceans. However, the marshy edges of the lake serve as important breeding grounds for several migratory bird species, including the Bar-headed goose and the Brahminy duck.
Because of its immense size, Pangong Tso is actually composed of several sub-lakes linked together, identified in Tibetan geography as Pangong Tso, Tso Nyak, Rum Tso, and Nyak Tso. The surrounding landscape features scarce vegetation, mostly limited to the river valleys that feed the lake during the summer snowmelt.
