Zhari Namco

Located in Northern Tibet, Zhari Namco is also called Taretso, or Teli Namtso, regarded as the No. 3 largest lake in Coqen town of Ngari Prefecture of Tibet region. The lake surface is approximately 4613 meters high and covers about 1023 square kilometers. It stretches about 53.5 kilometers from the east to the west, and around 26 kilometers in width.

Zhari Namco is a sag pond. According to the history record, the water surface has been ascended to approximately 100 meters high which is 2-3 times as it is now. The water flowing into Zhari Namco is mainly originated from two watercourses, Coqen Zangbo River and Dalong Zangbo River.

Zhari Namco is also a salt water lake which has 13.90g/l of the mineral substance content in the water. The area around Zhari Namco is one of the best pasture of northern Tibet, which is full of various of plants.

Zhari Namco - Brief Introduction

Zhari Namco is the No. 3 largest lake of Tibet region, located in the south part of Northern Tibet. It is situated Ngari Prefecture north latitude 30°44' - 31°05', east longitude 85°19' - 85 °54'. It is a kind of sag pond stretch approximately 53.5 kilometers from the east to the west, about 26 kilometers away from the south to the north. It covers 1023 square kilometers and located 4613 meters high. The average depth of the lake is 3.6 meters, which the deepest is 5.6 meters.

The shape of Zhari Namco features vast in the east and the west, but relatively more narrow in the south and the north.

The area around the lake is belong to northern Tibet high-cold steppe zone with extreme cold climate and dry weather. It is a pasture of Northern Tibet region. The water is mainly supplied by the melt water of the ice and snow. One of the two major watercourses, Coqen Zangbo riverway is originated from Mount Kailash covering an area of 9930 square kilometers, approximately 253 kilometers long.

Zhari Namco - Formation History

Along the lower reaches of Coqen Zangbo riverway from Coqen town, people can reach the lakeside of Zhari Namco. It is located in the large tectonic basin which formed by the fracture and foundering while the plateau rose. The triangle fault scarp can be easily seen on the piedmont of northern lake. Thousands and thousands of years ago, it once happened a terrible volcanic eruption in the northern mountain of the lake. The volcanic ash, lava flow, and tephra formed the stratum which finally changed different shapes.

There is an isolated peak standing in the due north of Zhari Namco which is formed by the black limestone of the sea 2-3 hundred million years ago. It is 5174 meters high, which is over 500 meters higher than the lake surface. All the sceneries of Zhari Namco should be appreciated standing at the top of the isolated peak. Walk along the lakeside of the south of the isolated peak, there is an arc sand extend to the the islet of the center of the lake which is the best location to hear the wave sound and enjoy the amazing natural scenery around Zhari Namco. Most tourists can not help themselves to take many photos as they can.

Zhari Namco - Travel Tips

Transportation

Zhari Namco is situated in the Coqen town of Ngari Prefecture of northern Tibet. Tourists could find it on the way drive from Lhasa to Lion Spring River, Ngari Prefecture, Guge Kingdom Ruins, etc. But there is no public bus.

Accommodation

Tourists could live in Zharinam guesthouse which only provide some general facilities in the room such as bed.