Pangong Lake

About Pangong Lake:

• Pangong Lake, also known as Pangong Tso, is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4,350 m (14,270 ft).
• It derives its name from the Tibetan word, “Pangong Tso”, which means “high grassland lake”.
• It is one of the world's highest brackish water lakes, situated at a height of 4350 meters.
• It is approximately 140 km from Leh in Jammu and Kashmir. 
• It is 134 km (83 mi) long and extends from India to China. Approximately 60% of the length of the lake lies in China.
• The lake is 5 km (3.1 mi) wide at its broadest point. Altogether, it covers 604 sq.km.
• It is famed for its colour changing water, from blue to red and green.
• During winter, the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water. 
• It is not part of the Indus River basin area and is geographically a separate land-locked river basin.
• It is in disputed territory. The Line of Actual Control (LAC) passes through the lake.

Q1: What is the Line of Actual Control (LAC)?

The LAC is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory. It is divided into three sectors: the eastern sector which spans Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the middle sector in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and the western sector in Ladakh. India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km.

Source: Satellite images reveal China's military build-up near Pangong Lake, India's western border