Bashkargol Lake
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (September 2022) |
Bashkargol Lake (Urdu: بشکارگول جھیل; Pashto: بشکارگول - "Lake of Green Valley") is a lake located in the upper Chitral Valley at a distance of about 170 kilometres (110 mi) from Chitral town in Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.[1] The lake is accessible by a four-wheel drive vehicle to the village of Sor Laspur followed by a kilometer's hike, and is often utilized for camping on the way to base camp of the peak Thalo Zom or to cross Thalo Pass.
| Bashkargol Lake بشکارگول جھیل | |
|---|---|
Bashkargol Lake in Laspur Valley | |
Bashkargol Lake بشکارگول جھیل | |
| Location | Laspur, Chitral Valley |
| Coordinates | 35°54′46″N 72°20′10″E / 35.91270°N 72.33604°E |
| Lake type | Alpine/Glacial lake |
| Primary inflows | Glaciers water |
| Primary outflows | Laspur River |
| Basin countries | Pakistan |
| Max. length | 2 km (1.2 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.3 km (0.81 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 3,652 m (11,982 ft) |
| Settlements | Mastuj, Chitral, Chitral Valley |
Geography
The Bashkargol Lake lies at the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains at an elevation of 3,652 m (11,982 ft), surrounded by meadows on its south, forest on its north, and mountains on its east and west. The Bashkargol lake is fed by melting glaciers and springs of the Hindu Kush mountain including the glaciers from Thalo Zom, Gochhar Sar and Kharakhali Peaks. The outlet from the lake gives rise to Laspur River, the major left tributary of the Chitral River which meets the Yarkhun River at the town of Mastuj to form the Mastuj River.
Flora and fauna
During the winter, the Bashkargol lake freezes and is covered by heavy snow. In the summers, the basin of the lake is surrounded by a sheet of alpine flowers like rose hip and gentian. Apart from it, the lake is encircled by diverse pinus species which serves as an abode for wild birds. Unlike other alpine lakes, Bashkargol Lake houses only a handful of fish.
Camping and Recreation
Although a much lesser-known lake, in recent year it has gained popularity as a camping spot for the locals of Laspur Valley as well as hikers who traverse from Chitral valley to Kumrat Valley in Upper Dir via Thalo Pass. It is also a stopover for mountaineers approaching the base camp of Thalo Zom peak.
Gallery
See also
- Karambar Lake - Broghil Valley
- Handarap Lake - Ghizer Valley
- Saidgai Lake - Swat Valley
- Kundol Lake - Kalam Valley
- Daral Lake - Swat Valley
References
- ^ "Bashkar Gol Lake". paktravel.net. Retrieved 22 July 2015.