Gokyo Lakes
Encyclopedia
Gokyo Lakes are oligotrophic lakes in Nepal
's Sagarmatha National Park
, located at an altitude of 4700 – above sea level
. These lakes are the world’s highest freshwater lake system comprising six main lakes, of which Thonak Lake is the largest. In September 2007, Gokyo and associated wetlands of 7770 ha (30 sq mi) have been designated a Ramsar site.
of Solukhumbu District
in Sagarmatha Zone
in north-eastern Nepal
. Gokyo Cho, also called Dudh Pokhari, is the main lake with an area of 42.9 ha (106 acre). Thonak Cho is the largest lake with an area of 65.07 ha (160.8 acre). Gyazumpa Cho is 29 ha (71.7 acre) in size, followed by Tanjung Cho with an area of 16.95 ha (41.9 acre), and Ngojumba Cho with an area of 14.39 ha (35.6 acre). As sources of permanent fresh water they have high hydrological
value. They feed on waters from various sources, such as seepage from the Ngozumpa glacier
, a stream coming from the Renjo La pass from north-west and another stream originating from the Ngozumpa glacier in the east. These are glacier-fed freshwater wetlands and discharge water to the Dudh Kosi headway via the Taujon Lake and the Longabanga Lake. A direct connection between the Gokyo Lake and the upper Thonak Cho and the Ngozumpa Cho has not been observed, but these lakes may be connected via underground seepage water. The Gokyo lake system is naturally vulnerable, as it is lying in an ecologically fragile and unstable zone. The outburst of Ngozumpa glacier is always a threat to the existence of the lakes.
The Gokyo lake system of 19 lakes is spread over an area of 196.2 ha (484.8 acre) lying between 4600 and 5100 m (15,091.9 and 16,732.3 ft). The wetland lies on the head of the Dudh Kosi
, which descends from Cho Oyo.
s and Buddhists
. About 500 Hindus take a holy bath in the lakes during the Janai Purnima festival, which usually occurs in the month of August. On an average 7,000 tourists annually visit the Gokyo Lakes. The site is worshipped as the residing place of ‘Nag Devata’ (Snake God); a temple of the Hindu deities Lords Vishnu
and Shiva
is situated at the western corner of the lake. The belief that birds and wildlife in the area should not be harmed has traditionally protected fauna.
base camp and other areas. Gokyo village at 4790 metres (15,715.2 ft) elevation is a major centre in the area. The site is two days walk uphill from Namche Bazaar
. A visit to the area often includes climbing Gokyo Ri
.
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
's Sagarmatha National Park
Sagarmatha National Park
Sagarmāthā National Park is a protected area in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal containing the southern half of Mount Everest. The park was created on July 19, 1976 and was inscribed as a Natural World Heritage Site in 1979...
, located at an altitude of 4700 – above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. These lakes are the world’s highest freshwater lake system comprising six main lakes, of which Thonak Lake is the largest. In September 2007, Gokyo and associated wetlands of 7770 ha (30 sq mi) have been designated a Ramsar site.
Lake system
Gokyo lakes are located in Khumjung Village Development CommitteeKhumjung
Khumjung is a village and Village Development Committee in Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Zone of north-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 1809 people living in 433 individual households....
of Solukhumbu District
Solukhumbu District
Solukhumbu District of 107,686.Mount Everest is located in the northern part of this district, within Sagarmatha National Park.Indigenous ethnic Rai and hill Caste Chhetri are the main groups living in the mid-hills, while Sherpas occupy high mountains....
in Sagarmatha Zone
Sagarmatha Zone
Sagarmāthā zone in the north, hill districts in the center, and valley districts of the Terai in the south. The borders of this zone are China to the north, India to the south, the Koshi Zone to the east and the Janakpur Zone to the west....
in north-eastern Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. Gokyo Cho, also called Dudh Pokhari, is the main lake with an area of 42.9 ha (106 acre). Thonak Cho is the largest lake with an area of 65.07 ha (160.8 acre). Gyazumpa Cho is 29 ha (71.7 acre) in size, followed by Tanjung Cho with an area of 16.95 ha (41.9 acre), and Ngojumba Cho with an area of 14.39 ha (35.6 acre). As sources of permanent fresh water they have high hydrological
Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...
value. They feed on waters from various sources, such as seepage from the Ngozumpa glacier
Nguzumpa glacier
The Nguzumpa glacier, below Cho Oyu in Nepal, at , is the longest glacier in the Himalayas....
, a stream coming from the Renjo La pass from north-west and another stream originating from the Ngozumpa glacier in the east. These are glacier-fed freshwater wetlands and discharge water to the Dudh Kosi headway via the Taujon Lake and the Longabanga Lake. A direct connection between the Gokyo Lake and the upper Thonak Cho and the Ngozumpa Cho has not been observed, but these lakes may be connected via underground seepage water. The Gokyo lake system is naturally vulnerable, as it is lying in an ecologically fragile and unstable zone. The outburst of Ngozumpa glacier is always a threat to the existence of the lakes.
The Gokyo lake system of 19 lakes is spread over an area of 196.2 ha (484.8 acre) lying between 4600 and 5100 m (15,091.9 and 16,732.3 ft). The wetland lies on the head of the Dudh Kosi
Dudh Kosi
-Kosi river system:The Kosi or Sapt Kosi drains eastern Nepal. It is known as Sapt Koshi because of the seven rivers which join together in east-central Nepal to form this river. The main rivers forming the Kosi system are – the Sun Kosi, the Indravati River, the Bhola Kosi, the Dudh Kosi, the Arun...
, which descends from Cho Oyo.
Religious significance
The Gokyo Lakes are considered sacred by both HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s and Buddhists
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
. About 500 Hindus take a holy bath in the lakes during the Janai Purnima festival, which usually occurs in the month of August. On an average 7,000 tourists annually visit the Gokyo Lakes. The site is worshipped as the residing place of ‘Nag Devata’ (Snake God); a temple of the Hindu deities Lords Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
and Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
is situated at the western corner of the lake. The belief that birds and wildlife in the area should not be harmed has traditionally protected fauna.
Tourism
Gokyo is among the most popular tourist destinations leading towards the Sagarmathabase camp and other areas. Gokyo village at 4790 metres (15,715.2 ft) elevation is a major centre in the area. The site is two days walk uphill from Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar is a village and Village Development Committee in Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Zone of north-eastern Nepal. It is located within the Khumbu area at , populating the sides of a hill...
. A visit to the area often includes climbing Gokyo Ri
Gokyo Ri
Gokyo Ri, aka Gokyo Peak is a peak in the Khumbu region of the Nepal Himalayas. It is located on the west side of the Ngozumpa Glacier, which is the largest glacier in Nepal, and reputed to be the largest in the whole Himalayas...
.