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Tsomoriri
| Site Name | Tsomoriri |
|---|---|
| State | Ladakh |
| Ramsar Site Number | 1213 |
| Ramsar Designation Date | 19 Aug 2002 |
| Area | 12000 hectares |
| Latitude | 32.9 |
| Longitude | 78.3 |
| Categories | Inland wetland Permanent saline/ brackish/ alkaline lake |
| Elevation min / max | 4595 / 4595 |
| Listed in Montreux Record? | No |
| Spans over more than one country? | No |
| Details | |
| A freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea level, with wet meadows and borax-laden wetlands along the shores. The site is said to represent the only breeding ground outside of China for one of the most endangered cranes, the Black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis), and the only breeding ground for Bar-headed geese in India. The Great Tibetan Sheep or Argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni) and Tibetan Wild Ass (Equus kiang) are endemic to the Tibetan plateau, of which the Changthang is the westernmost part. The barley fields at Korzok have been described as the highest cultivated land in the world. With no outflow, evaporation in the arid steppe conditions causes varying levels of salinity. Ancient trade routes and now major trekking routes pass the site. The 400-year-old Korzok monastery attracts many tourists, and the wetland is considered sacred by local Buddhist communities and the water is not used by them. The local community dedicated Tsomoriri as a WWF Sacred Gift for the Living Planet in recognition of WWF-India's project work there. The rapidly growing attraction of the recently opened area to western tourists (currently 2500 per summer) as an "unspoilt destination" with pristine high desert landscapes and lively cultural traditions brings great promise but also potential threats to the ecosystem. | |
| Threats | |
| Transportation and service corridors, Unspecified, Roads and railroads, Agriculture & aquaculture, Livestock farming and ranching, Pollution, Garbage and solid waste, Human intrusions & disturbance, Recreational and tourism activities, Biological resource use, Unspecified, Human settlements (non agricultural), Tourism and recreation areas | |
