The topography of the Pangong Tso region is dominated by steep, barren mountain ranges that descend almost vertically into the lake. The primary range bordering the northern shores is the Pangong Range, featuring peaks that exceed 6,000 meters (19,685 feet). To the south and east lies the expanse of the Changtang Plateau, known for its rolling, high-altitude plains.
The lake itself sits in a deep, narrow basin. The shoreline on the Indian side is characterized by physical protrusions of the Chang Chenmo mountain range into the lake. These mountainous spurs are militarily and colloquially referred to as "Fingers" (numbered 1 through 8). The highest points in the immediate vicinity tower over 2,000 meters above the lake's surface, while the lake bed itself forms the lowest point in this specific basin. The terrain leaves very little flat land along the water's edge, constraining human settlement and road construction to narrow, rocky strips.