16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
a solitary gul flying through rugged montains over emerald lake

Loved seeing this solitary brown headed gull, against the surreal backdrop of magical colours, flying towards Infinity. Pangong Tso, the largest wetland in the high altitude Himalayas, is a pristine lake spread between India and China. The Lake unfurls myriad of mystical colours from turquoise to indigo to emerald - Crystal clear water surrounded by trans-Himalayan barren mountains is mesmerizing. Situated at a height of 14,270 ft, Pangong Tso is part of the Changthang Wild Life Sanctuary of Ladakh which preserves some rare species of wildlife. Due to the saltiness in the water, there is very less micro-vegetation. There are no fish or other aquatic life in the lake, except for some small crustaceans and some species of scrub and perennial herbs that grow in the marshes around the lake. The lake serves as an important breeding ground for a variety of birds including a number of migratory birds and is in the process of being identified as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2018
Photo Location: pangong lake, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir state, India, India
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Copyright: © Mainak Ray