Silingtso Lake

Silingtso Lake is the second largest lake in Tibet and the third largest saltwater lake in China. It is a structural lake formed in the formation process of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is also a large and deep lake. The depth of the lake center is over 30 meters. In summer, there are various migratory birds staying on island.

Silingtso Lake – Brief Introduction

Silingtso Lake means "sparkling ghost lake" in Tibetan language. It is located in the area of Bange County and Shenzha County, on north side of Gandise Range. The whole lake is about 72 kilometers long from east to west and bout 22.8 kilometers wide from south to north. The widest part on east side is about 40 kilometers. The area of the whole lake is 1640 square meters. It is only smaller than Namtso Lake in Tibet. The altitude of lake surface is 4,530 meters. Based on the research of scientists, the area of Silingtso Lake ever reached over 10,000 square meters. Later, with change of climate, the Gerentso, Co Ngoin, Yageongtso, Bangetso, Wurutso, Qiguitso, Ziguitso, Yueqiaotso separated from the large lake. The Silingtso watershed is surrounded by mountains on four sides. The Silingtso Lake is with large lake basin, lush waterweeds at the lake bank. It is one of important livestock farming base of Northern Tibet, as well as Shenzha Wet Land Nature Reserve of protecting black-necked crane.

Silingtso Lake – Climate Features

The ancient Silingtso Lake ever reached over 10,000 square kilometers. Later, the lake became smaller because climate became drier. The lake area is in semi-arid steppe zone. The annual average temperature is about 3 degree below zero to 0.6 degree below zero. The average temperature in the hottest month is 9.4 degree. The annual precipitation is about 290mm. The precipitation in June and September is about 90 percents of the whole year. In summer, it often hails.

Silingtso Lake – Legend

Siling was a devil who ever lived in Duilong Deqing, on west of Lhasa. He greedily ate millions living creature everyday, including people and animals. But nobody can do anything to him. At a good moment after storm, the Padmasambhava found Siling. Siling escaped to a large lake on south side of Gangni Qiangtang with Padmasambhava behind him. Padmassambhava asked Siling should not leave this lake forever, to confess in the lake and should not hurt creatures in the lake. Padmasambhava also named this large lake as "Silingduotso" which means "Siling Ghost Lake".

Silingtso Lake – Species

Silingtso Lake is the place with most rare and endangered species in the Alpine Grassland Ecosystem. It is also the largest nature reserve of black-necked crane. In addition, there are black-necked crane, snow leopard, Tibetan antelope, argali, equus kiang and Tetraogallus Tibetanus which are under state first-grade protection. The Gymnocypris Selincuoensis is the only fish in the Silingtso Lake.

The Silingtso Lake is the kingdom of lakes. There are 23 small lakes around the Silingtso Lake, just like a jade neck. Among these small lakes, the Co Ngoin Bird Island becomes the second base of migratory birds. In spring and summer of each year, you will see over ten thousands Mediterranean Larus brunnicephaluses come here from Mediterranean. The scene is very grand.