Spanggur Tso

Spanggur Tso is a high-altitude saline lake in the eastern Ladakh region, situated close to the Line of Actual Control between India and China. The lake lies on a high plateau and is notable for its remote mountain setting and strategic location.

The lake is long and narrow, characteristic of tectonic or valley lakes in the region, and lies near other high-altitude lakes in eastern Ladakh. Activities around the lake are limited by its altitude, harsh climate and the area’s disputed border status.

Historically the area around Spanggur Tso has been part of the broader frontier between India and China; control of shores and access has been affected by border agreements and military deployments in the 20th and 21st centuries. The lake has not been developed for mass tourism because of its remoteness and security considerations.

Geographically the lake sits on a high plateau in eastern Ladakh, northeast of Leh and in the same high-altitude lake system as Pangong Tso. The nearest settled towns are several tens of kilometres away across difficult mountain terrain.

• Elevation and type: Sits at high altitude, around 4,250 meters above sea level, and is a saline lake rather than a freshwater lake.
• Border status: Located in a disputed border region between India and China in eastern Ladakh; access and administration have been affected by that status.