The Ladakh administration recently launched an ambitious project to revive and restore the shrinking Tso Kar Lake by diverting nearly 320 million litres of untapped glacier water daily from the glacial stream, Rupsho Kharnak.
About Tso Kar Lake:
Tso Kar, meaning “White Lake” in Ladakhi, is a high-altitude salt lake located in the Rupshu Valley of Ladakh.
It is the smallest of the three prominent lakes in the region, alongside Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri.
The lake's name derives from the white salt deposits that fringe its shores, remnants of its saline nature.
The Tso Kar basin includes both Tso Kar Lake and Startsapuk Tso (a nearby freshwater lake), creating a rare wetland system.
It experiences extreme winters with temperatures falling below -40 °C, while summers see a maximum of 30°C.
The nomads, commonly known as Khampas, inhabit the Tso Kar area, and they make a living here by collecting the salt from the banks of Tso Kar Lake and selling it to the regions nearby.
The lake is surrounded by marshlands, which host different types of birds. Some of these are Brahmi Ducks, bar-headed geese, and great crested grebe.
The most commonly spotted birds at the lake, though, are the black-necked cranes, which visit the lake to lay eggs.
Mammals like Kianga, the largest of the wild asses, can also be spotted. The area surrounding the lake is also home to ibex, snow leopards, and snow foxes.
Ramsar Site: In 2020, Tso Kar was recognized as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, highlighting its ecological significance.
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