Pangong Tso
Loading map…
Overview
Pangong Tso is a high-altitude soda lake in Ladakh at about 4,250 m. The LAC crosses it, roughly 60% of it is under Chinese control, and the 'fingers' on its north bank were friction points.
The lake is about 134 km long, at about 4,225 m, and roughly a third of it lies in Indian territory as administered, the rest in Tibet.
It is a brackish, endorheic lake that freezes completely in winter.
The ridges on its north bank, called fingers, and the Kailash range on the south bank were flashpoints in the 2020 India–China standoff.
Geography and key facts
- Ladakh
- Endorheic soda lake
- LAC friction point
- About 134 km long
- Brackish; freezes in winter
- 2020 standoff
Why it matters for UPSC
Asked on the India–China standoff.
Note for UPSC
Ladakh; a high-altitude endorheic lake crossed by the LAC.
Expect questions on the type of lake (lagoon, freshwater, saline), its state and any Ramsar status.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Pangong Tso yet.
Key facts
- Type
- Lake / lagoon
- State / UT
- Ladakh
- Coordinates
- 33.718°N, 78.897°E
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.