Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tibetan Landscapes
It's hard to overstate the global significance of the Tibetan plateau. Not only
is it the earth's highest ecosystem and one of its last remaining great wilder-
nesses, but it also contains the headwaters of Asia's greatest rivers; rivers
that deliver water to half the world's population! How the Chinese govern-
ment harnesses these resources, particularly Tibet's water, without harming
their long-term sustainability will shape the future of half the planet.
The Roof of the World
The Tibetan plateau is one of the most isolated regions in the world, bound to the south by
the 2500km-long Himalayan arc, to the west by the Karakoram and to the north by the Kun-
lun and Altyn Tagh ranges, two of the least explored ranges on earth. The northwest in par-
ticular is bound by the most remote wilderness left on earth, outside the polar regions. Four
of the world's 10 highest mountains straddle Tibet's southern border with Nepal.
The plateau is also home to the world's highest number of glaciers outside the poles,
making it the source of Asia's greatest rivers. Furthermore, it is thought that the high plat-
eau affects global jet streams and even influences the Indian monsoon. With an average alti-
tude of 4000m and large swaths of the country well above 5000m, the Tibetan plateau aptly
deserves the title the 'roof of the world'.
Much of Tibet is a harsh and uncompromising landscape, best described as a high-alti-
tude desert. Little of the Indian monsoon makes it over the Himalayan watershed, which is
one reason why there is surprisingly little snow in the 'Land of Snows'! Shifting sand dunes
are a common sight along the Samye Valley and the road to Mt Kailash.
The plateau's regions are surprisingly diverse and can be loosely divided into four major
regions.
Tibet has several thousand lakes (
tso
in Tibetan), of which the largest are Nam-tso,
Yamdrok-tso, Manasarovar (Mapham Yum-tso), Siling-tso and Pangong-tso, the last cross-
ing the Indian border into Ladakh.
