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National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| Scientific Results of a Journey in Central Asia, 1899-1902 : vol.4 |
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Citation Information
THE LAKOR-TSO AND ITS BEACH-LINES.
161
was soon succeeded by a larger one, drawn out east and west Between the two we observed another area of gypsum mounds. The river, after hugging closely the foot of the latter butte, turns abruptly to the north, as also does its latitudinal valley, though this soon terminates at the lake. Here again the valley is bounded on the south by a moderately high range, which culminates right at the elbow in a sharp-pointed, rugged, dominating peak, with steep shelvings. Here again regular beach-lines were often observed running like cornices along the slopes. We noticed a flock of wild-sheep, an animal that is scarce in this part of Tibet.
From the bend in the valley we marched towards the north-west, leaving the river behind us. This winds away to the north, until it expands into a small delta on the shore of the Lakor-tso, which we were slowly approaching. At the point where we at length reached it a spur from the southern range advances close up to the shore. The triangle made by our route, the river, and the lake-shore is covered by an expanse of gypsum, exhibiting the usual features. At its western end, next the mountain spur, there is a string of small salt lagoons and marshes. The shore there is extremely flat and very irregular in outline. The western and north-western shores of the lake are overhung by wild and lofty mountains, though in the haze of the storm that was then raging they presented themselves merely as a confused blurr. For this reason we continued some distance along the shore, the ground being level and good for marching on. I got the impression, that the lake must be shallow, for as far out as we were able to see the water gleamed here and there a light green, though generally it is a dark green. Probably the deepest part of the depression forms a flat, level saucer. The areometer showed that the water had a sp. gr. of I.o6o.
From a promontory jutting out into the lake, and forcing us to turn to the west-south-west, we obtained a general view of the western end of the range which we had hitherto had on our left hand ; it is both wild and rocky. Immediately to the west of it, though separated from it by a gap, rises yet another big bluff. Climbing up several steep step-like terraces, marking former higher lake-levels, we at length reached a broken plateau, which lies, I dare say, about 3o m. above the lake. On the south-west the descent from this platform is steep; and after that we had to cross over a whole series of deeply cut and difficult gullies or watercourses, all terminating at a gypsum expanse of the usual character. Across the lower part of it flows a river, coming from the S. 20° E. down a big valley, which stretches away to the south-east, affording an extensive view of mountain-spurs jutting out en échelon from each side. This big valley thus debouches upon the Lakor-tso. Its lower part, now occupied by gypsum deposits, is very flat and level, and was at relatively no great distance of time a bay of the lake. The river was then carrying but little water, perhaps half a cubic meter; nevertheless there were fish in it. One of the Tibetans declared, that the road from Ladak to Lhasa runs through this valley, or at any rate one of the roads does. We pitched Camp CIX at some distance from the west bank of the stream and at the foot of a mountain, being only a few, possibly not more than 2 m. above the surface of the lake, which
itself has an altitude of 4600 m.
Hedin, Tourney in Central Asia. I V.
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