CHAPTER LIX.
THE DEPRESSIONS ALONG THE NORTHERN AND THE
SOUTHERN BASE OF THE TRANSHIMALAYA.
Proceeding one step to the south we come to the most interesting and attractive latitudinal depression in the whole of the Tibetan plateau-land; viz., the one situated along the northern base of the Transhimalaya , and at the southern base of the mountain system bordering the Selling-tso — Panggong-tso depression on the south. To this lacustrine depression belong the famous Tengri - nor or Nam-tso, the Lake of Heaven , which was known in Europe some 20o years ago, a series of lakes discovered by NAIN SING in 1874, and another series discovered by me in 1908.
A few Transhimalayan lakes have not been entered in the following list, viz., the Shuru-tso (4725 m.) and Poru-tso (5094 m.), as they do not belong to the depression , but are situated in the interior of Transhimalaya itself; the Karongtso, as my route is situated at some distance from its northern shore; the Tabietsaka, as I have only seen it from a great distance and only can tell that it is at a lower altitude than Tarok-tso (4627 m.); the Marchar-tso as it was only seen at a distance of 6 miles from the north by Nain Sing and at 4 miles from the S. W. by nie (January 1907, cf. the second photograph opposite p. 342, Vol. III). Ring-tso, Bul-tso, Mokieu - tso and Chikut- tso (Tsiku-tso) are all left at some distance to the north of Nain Sing's route; if the Pundit's altitudes along his route are correct these lakes must be at a lower altitude than Ngangtse-tso and about at the same as Tengri-nor. South of Ring-tso Nain Sing has an altitude of 4712 m., south of Bul-tso 4681 m., south of Mokieu-tso 4510 m., and south of Chikut-tso 4651 m.
The remaining 1 o lakes of the great depression whose altitudes are known are the following, the names within brackets being the explorers responsible for the observations:
IIIF Color HighRes
