Xin Co

About

Xin Co (Tibetan) is a high-altitude glacial lake situated at 4,820 meters (15, 814 ft) in Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Covering 26 km2, it lies within the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountain range and feeds the upper reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. The lake's turquoise waters, with pH levels averaging 8.3, support endemic species such as the Tibetan snowtrout (Schizopygopsis thermalis) and migratory black-necked cranes (Grus nigricollis). Its shoreline hosts rare alpine flora, including Rhododendron nivale and cushion plant communities (Androsace tapete), adapted to temperatures as low as -30 °C.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.