China Motorbike Team Part 3: Qinghai Lake
This is the continuation of our journey to Qinghai. In the previous parts we visited Amne Machin and the source of the Yellow River on the tibetan high plateau.
First glimpse of Qinghai lake, the largest lake of the Himalayas. The other side of the lake is not visible. The lake has a surface of 4,300 square kilometers and a depth of 25 meters. It is the biggest salt water lake in Asia. It is 350 kilometers to drive around the lake.
The road to the shore is a pleasure.
The Huangyu, also Naked carp, is an endemic fish of the lake. Due to overfishing in the 1970ies it became endangered, whereas now the government is repopulating the fish and fishing is prohibited.
Qinghai lake is also famous for the migrant birds. Wild ducks, geese and sea gulls are nesting on the famous bird island in the middle of the lake.
The shores of the lake are accessable almost everywhere. The beaches are amazing but the water is quite cold on 3200 meters.
Driving through the vastness of the lake is meditative.
Nomad people preparing their tents for renting them in the summer month. It is a very enjoyable overnight stay. The tents are provided with camp beds, a stove and the nomad´s are very good chefs.
Snow mountains and sand dunes are brought together in this remote area of the world.
Only a few on the beach. A boy plays with his dog.
This sand shadow dunes are blown here by the wind. They are reaching from the eastern shores to the mountains. They are reminding you that the Gobi desert is just 200 kilometers northeast of the lake.
Enjoying this very special scenery even the toughest guy has his emotional moment.
