Pangong Tso is in disputed territory. The Line of Actual Control
passes through the lake. A section of the lake approximately 20 km east
from the Line of Actual Control is controlled by China but claimed by
India. The eastern end of the lake is in Tibet. After the mid-19th century, Pangong Tso was at the southern end of the so-calledJohnson Line, an early attempt at demarcation between India and China in the Aksai Chain region.
TheKhurnak Fort lies on the northern bank of the lake, halfway of Pangong Tso. The Chinese has controlled the Khurnak Fort area since 1952.To the south is the smaller Spanggur Tso lake.
On October 20, 1962, Pangong Tso saw military action during the Sino-Indian War, successful for the People's Liberation Army.
Pangong Tso is still a delicate border point along the Line of Actual Control.Incursions from Chinese side are common.
The lake acts as an important breeding ground for a variety of birds including a number of migratory birds. During summer, theBar-headed goose and Brahmini Ducks are commonly seen here. The region around the lake supports a number of species of wildlife including the kiang and theMarmot.
Formerly, Pangong Tso had an outlet to Shyok River, a tributary of Indus River, but it was closed off due to natural damming. Two streams feed the lake from the Indian side, forming marshes and wetlands at the edges. Strand lines above current lake level reveal a 5 m (16 ft) thick layer of mud and laminated sand, suggesting the lake has shrunken recently in geological scale.
TheKhurnak Fort lies on the northern bank of the lake, halfway of Pangong Tso. The Chinese has controlled the Khurnak Fort area since 1952.To the south is the smaller Spanggur Tso lake.
On October 20, 1962, Pangong Tso saw military action during the Sino-Indian War, successful for the People's Liberation Army.
Pangong Tso is still a delicate border point along the Line of Actual Control.Incursions from Chinese side are common.
Flora, fauna and geography
The brackish water of the lake has very low micro-vegetation. Guides report that there are no fish or other aquatic life in the lake, except for some small crutaceans. On the other hand, visitors see numerous ducks and gulls over and on the lake surface. There are some species of scrub and perennial herbs that grow in the marshes around the lake.The lake acts as an important breeding ground for a variety of birds including a number of migratory birds. During summer, theBar-headed goose and Brahmini Ducks are commonly seen here. The region around the lake supports a number of species of wildlife including the kiang and theMarmot.
Formerly, Pangong Tso had an outlet to Shyok River, a tributary of Indus River, but it was closed off due to natural damming. Two streams feed the lake from the Indian side, forming marshes and wetlands at the edges. Strand lines above current lake level reveal a 5 m (16 ft) thick layer of mud and laminated sand, suggesting the lake has shrunken recently in geological scale.
