LAKE NAMTSO
It is second biggest salt lake in Tibet lies 210 kms north of Lhasa.It is fairly rugged trip off beaten track but the rewards are considerable .At present this is best opportunity open to travelers to see nomads on the move their yaks herds and to get the flavour of Tibet's high grasslands. The lake itself is spectacular and still totally wild.The altitude exceeds 4300 meters for the most of journey and one mountain pass is 5200mtrs.The road from Lhasa follows After leaving from Lhasa the route follows the Damxung River valley through fields of rape and barley passing small villages Greenery and dwelling become sparser as the valley narrows.the road enter a steep, rocky gorges 80 kilometers from Lhasa and climbs beside the tumbling River for several kilometers ,when it merges on the Tibet northern plateau a totally new landscapes greet the travelers.Windswept grassland alternating with grave desert stretch between snowcapped mountains and a chain of steep bare hills. This is land of nomads too high for farms and villages.

Yangbajing 87 kilometers north of an elevation of 4300mtrs borders on a flat area of hot spring covers 16 square kilometers.Steam and geyser can be seen rising from the plain.These feed two new geothermal electricity generating stations and a huge geodesic green house that uses warmth and humidity from the steam to produce un seasonal vegetables.If nomads are in the vicinity yaks graze, right up to the wire fence apparently unperturbed by the racket of guising steam and the modern technology on the other side. Power plant supplies electricity in Lhasa, it is first and biggest thermal development in China established in 1976.The electricity produced is vital Tibet's economic development as all other kind of fuel except yak dung and wood, have to be trucked in.The plant can be visited by arrangement with CITS .A technician answers question and conduct a guided tour of the steam-powered generators,cooling towers and steam-heated green house where vegetables grow through out year.

The road runs a long, straight , upland valley usually dotted with nomad encampment and herd of yaks.The nomads who roam over vast areas of Northern Tibet make up about a quarter of the population of central and western Tibet.They produce wool,that has been Tibet's chief export for centuries and contributed an essential part of the country's diet in meat and dairy products

Damxung is a bleak small settlement of low barrack-like buildings founded in 1960 situated at 4400mtrs.unlike town in the southern farming areas,it has no old Tibetan villages at its heart.Its main street has the raw look of an American wild west frontier town, with stocky nomads horses hitched to the post of open front stores.A small ghost town stands near an abandoned airstrip.It is important spot in this region for government functions and general supplies.It has a barn department store where basic necessities and sturby clothes can be bought.A major festival called DAJYUR draws nomads to Damxung from all direction at the beginning of the lunar Colander's eight month(solar September) for ten days of festivity horseracing bicycle-riding contest,rock carrying competition and other forms of merriment.

Road from there crosses the plain and follows a stream up a steep, rocky valley in to the mountains.Local believes wolves, bears, Yeti and leopard still live in the Nyanchen Tanglha range.A stark crag and a stone pile mark the top of the LARGEH LA PASS 5132 mtrs high. Occasionally jeep meet a caravana of thousand yaks heading through the pass laden with hand woven bag, of sheep's wool.This is a wonderful sightsteered by mounted ,sling-wielding outriders and circling dogs,they fill the narrow passage. Just beyond the pass a dramatic view of blue lake ,Lake Namtso appears stretches at 4591 meters.It covers 1940 square kilometers.Road decends rapidly to the plain where it continues over grassland fording shallow streams.Mount Nyanchen stand over the head at 7088mtrs in the west.Water birds skim the water ,in june hundred of wild geese nest close off shore on the banks of reeds.Colour abounds every where in tiny jewel like flowers underfoot and distant mountains rock.