Tso Morari, sometimes spelt Tsomiriri Lake, one of the largest lakes in the
Ladakh region, is situated at an altitude of about 4900 m. This lake which is almost like an inland sea, has a length of about 22 km and a depth of more than 30 m at the deepest point. The width of the lake varies from 5 to 7 km.
Tso Morari Lake, formed by melting of ice masses left behind by the retreating glaciers, is stunning cobalt blue in colour. During winter, the surface of the lake becomes frozen and it is possible for animals and human beings to walk over it. Tso Morari also contains large quantities of mineral deposits.
The lake is the only breeding ground outside of China for one of the most endangered cranes, the Black-necked crane Grus Nigricollis, and the sole breeding ground for bar-headed geese in India. The conservation of the lake is done by a trust which was recently formed with the help of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
