Contents

Phoksundo Lake

Lake in Nepal

Phoksundo Lake
फोक्सुण्डो (Nepali)
Phoksundo Lake
Bathymetric Map of Phoksundo Lake published by Department of Hydrology and Meteorology in 2019
Location	Dolpa District, Nepal
Coordinates	29°12′30″N 82°57′30″E / 29.20833°N 82.95833°E / 29.20833; 82.95833
Primary outflows	Suligad River
Basin countries	Nepal
Max. length	5.64 km (3.50 mi)
Max. width	549.89–975.24 m (1,804.1–3,199.6 ft)
Surface area	485 ha (4.85 km2)
Max. depth	136.20 m (446.9 ft)
Water volume	398.73×10^6 m3 (14.081×10^9 cu ft)
Shore length1	18,295.26 m (60,023.8 ft)
Surface elevation	3,589 m (11,775 ft)
Ramsar Wetland
Designated	23 September 2007
Reference no.	1694[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Phoksundo Lake (Nepali: फोक्सुण्डो, romanized: Phoksuṇḍo, pronounced [pʰoksuɳɖo]) is an alpine fresh water oligotrophic lakeinNepal's Shey Phoksundo National Park, located at an elevation of 3,611.5 m (11,849 ft) in the Dolpa District. Phoksundo Lake is 494 ha (1.91 sq mi) in size with a water volume of 409,000,000 m³ (1.44×10¹⁰ cu ft) and a discharge of 3.715 m³/s (131.2 cu ft/s).^[2] In 2004, a survey by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology measured the maximum depth of the lake at 145 m (476 ft).^[3] In 2019, another detailed survey was carried out by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, which measured the maximum depth of the lake at 136.20 m (446.9 ft).^[4]

In September 2007, Phoksundo Lake has been designated a Ramsar site.^[5]

On the lake' southern end, the village of Ringmo sits on the 30,000- to 40,000-year-old landslide dam that formed the lake.^[6] Past the dam, the waters of the lake plunge over a 167 m (548 ft) tall waterfall.

Religious significance[edit]

There are more than 20 stupas in the southern belt, and one gompa in the eastern side of the lake, where annual prayers and worship are carried out. Traditional Tibetan culture prevails in upper Dolpo; Buddhism and Bon are prevalent in lower Dolpo, including Ringmo village.^[2]

References[edit]

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