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5. Lake Gurudongmar: 5,148 m (17,100 ft)

gurudongmar
Image debasish_roy2000

Lying on the north side of the Khangchengyao Range close to the Indo-China border is the second highest lake in India, Lake Gurudongmar. It was named after Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Dongmar, or Guru Nanak) who was said to have been responsible for bringing Tantric Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet in the 8th century.

Located in the northern part of Sikkim, the lake sits at an altitude of 5,148 m (17,100 ft), yet is still frequented annually by pilgrims who claim the waters have curative qualities.

guru1
Image Himalaya Tourism

During the winter months, Gurudongmar Lake is almost completely frozen over except for one small section of the lake, which local Sikkimese and Buddhists believe to be touch and blessed by the lakes namesake, Guru Padmasambhava.

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Image Amit Mitra

4. Panch Pokhari: 5,494 m (18,025 ft)

panch pokhari
Image Sponsor Trek

High in the peaks of Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area, Nepal are the five sacred lakes of Panch Pokhari – the highest named lakes in the world. Found on a little travelled route about 6 km east of Ama Dablam, in Arun River Valley, Panch Pokhari is a revered pilgrimage site for Hindus, about 5,494 m (18,025 ft) above sea level.

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Image Summit Post

The area is also popular with trekkers to the area, but only those able to cope with the dizzying effects of altitude. Trekkers are often amazed to find rural villages and people working in the terraced fields, even in such a remote place where they struggle to breathe. The head mix of awesome scenery, biodiversity and culture is well worth the climb, according to those who’ve made it.

trekker panch pakhari
Image Explore Himalaya

3&4. Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde: 6,390 m (20,965 ft)

Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde sit at base of Licancabur volcano, which also has a small lake within its crater, at an altitude of approximately 6,390 m (20,965 ft). Also located in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in Bolivia, the lakes, although now divided were thought to be one large lake.

laguna y blanca
Image Rasta Chango

Laguna Verde
Laguna Verde is the larger of the two with a surface of 17 km2. It’s wonderful green color is caused by the presence of minerals and noxious sediments including copper, calcium, arsenic and lead. Even still, regardless of the water concentration, hoards of planktonic fauna and bacteria survive in its waters.

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Image ik_kil

verde2
Image via soneunviaje

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Image abmiller

Laguna Blanca
Laguna Blanca has a lower concentration of these elements so appears white, although visitors to the lakes have said that the color changes when the wind stirs up the copper, as it does with Laguna Verde.

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Image Anlopelope

1. Ojos del Salada: 6,891 m (20,964 ft)

ojos del salada
Image via Andes
Sitting at the foot of the highest volcano in the world, Ojos del Salado, which is 6,891 m high, is an unnamed crater pool measuring just 100 meters in diameter and five to ten meters deep. Found on the Argentinean-Chilean border, even without a name the tiny lake is regarded as the highest body of water in the world at 6390 m (20,964 ft) high. A bit of an anticlimax for the highest lake on Earth!

Actual Highest Lakes in the World:

10. Damavand Pool 5,650 m 18,536 ft Iran
9. Poquentica Lake: 5,750 m 18,865 ft Chile-Bolivia
8. Ridonglabo Lake: 5,801 m 19,032 ft Tibet
7. Aguas Calientes Pool: 5,831 m 19,130 ft Chile
6. Lake Licancbur (Laguna Verde): 5,916 m 19,410 ft Chile-Bolivia
5. Acamarachi Pool: 5,950 m 19,520 ft Chile
4. East Rongbuk Pool: 6,100 20,013 Tibet
3. Changtse Pool: 6,216 m 20,394 Tibet
2. Lhagba Pool: 6,368 m 20,892 ft Tibet
1. Ojos del Salado Pool: 6,390 m 20,965 ft Argentina

Source 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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