The meaning of Nam Lake in Tibetan language is “Sky Lake”, which is one of the three sacred lakes. The lake is at the altitude of 4718 meters, 70 kilometers long from west to east and 30 kilometers wide from south to north, with an area of 1920 square kilometers. It is the biggest lake in Tibet, the second biggest lagoon in China and the world’s highest big lake. It is in the mountain area which is about 60 kilometers away from the northwest part of Xiong County. It has a sacred position in the eyes of Tibetan people. When it is the year of goat in Tibetan calendar, numerous pilgrims from afar will come here to take part in the grand “Zhuan Lake Festival”.
Nam Cuo is called Nam Lake is on the Tibetan Plateau China. According to the historical records, the lake seems that the sky lands on the ground, so it is called “Sky Lake”. However, the herdsmen around the lake have that it is called “Sky Lake” for the altitude of is so high as if it were in the sky. In the Tibetan language, “Cuo” means lake. The local Tibetan people call it Tangri Sea, which means “Sky Lake”. The believers respect it as one of the four bold lakes, which is the Buddhist rite of Cakrasamvara. It is a famous
Holy Land of Tibetan Buddhism.
The shape of Nam Lake is like lying Buddha. There are 18 girders in the south of the lake like Turtle Girder and Peacock Girder while there are 18 islands in the north of the lake such as Duck Island and Bird Island. There are four temples around the lake, the Zhaxi Duoboqie Temple in the east, Guerqiong Baima Temple in the south, Duojia Temple in the west, and Qiatuo Temple in the north, which symbolize the “irritation, anger, authority and power.” There are many naturally shaped images of Buddha on the walls of the temples. The legend has that Nam Lake is the daughter of Lord Shakya and the mother of Chen-thang-lha, so it regarded as one of the place that you must visit by those devout men and women.
There are five islands standing in the water, which are said to be the incarnation of Five Dhyani Buddhas. Whoever goes to the lake must prostrate themselves in worship. Among the islands, the largest one Liangduo Island accounts for 12000 square kilometers. Besides there are five islands into the water from different directions, among which the Zhaxi Peninsula is the most famous one. The numerous stelaes and stone mountains take all kinds of shapes: some are strong as elephant noses; some are like human bodies and others are like cypresses, vivid and absolutely lifelike. You can also see different caves, which have short or long entrances. Some of the caves have naturally shaped windows while others are filled with stalactites. There are strange stones and mountain forests here and there and connecting mountain forests are stone bridges, which are all marvelous creations excelling nature and wonderful sights.
Nam Lake Attractions
Nam Lake Story
1. Sky Lake Goddess
Nam Lake is Sky Lake Goddess. The legend has that the water resources in the Nam Lake is the magical water in the Heavenly Palace as well as a perfect mirror for goddess in Heavenly Palace. Another saying has that there is a beautiful and diligent herds girl getting the decree of God in one dream. She comes to the Nam Lake and sees a gorgeous woman asking her to pick up a child on April 15 at Pu Sulong. Later the decree comes true. Tibetan Buddhism regards Nam Lake as the incarnation of lying Mother Buddha, so it is a famous sacred place.
2. The Origin of Nam Lake
About the cause of formation of Nam Lake, there is a legend among people. Long ago, there was a beautiful and healthy girl who grazed at the meadow in the north of Tibet all year around. One night, she dreamt that from Danggula Mountains came a man in white clothes, hat and on a ride horse and dated with her. Later the girl had a boy baby. The boy grew very fast to be tall and strong.
Right by their tent, there was a huge rock. According to the old people, there was a well under it connecting with sea. Nobody was allowed to remove the rock; otherwise there would be a disaster. However, the boy was so curious to try his strength, so by lifting up slightly, he removed the rock. He put the rock aside and went back to his tent. Suddenly he heard the huge noise of water and the rough waves came at him. He hurriedly ran into the tent, carrying his mother on back and ran to the mountain. They stood at the top of the mountain and saw that the water level was still rising, so his mother asked him to remove the mountains to block the water. He moved 18 mountains from the south part of Danggula Mountains and 19 mountains from the north part, which finally block the water. The water surrounded by these mountains is the Nam Lake nowadays. Then to support life, the boy drove back wild yaks. When his mother did not pay attention, fifty yaks ran away, which are the ancestors of the wild yaks today. The wild yaks which did not escape turn into the domestic yaks today.
Once, when the boy grazed, he met an old man in all white and riding a white horse who said he can realize all the wishes of the boy. Then the old man took the young boy to a crystal treasure-house which was filled with treasure. The old man let him to pick up three things and he would give the boy the things he had held. The boy picked up salt, soda and white sea snails and he took these things home happily. This is the resource of salt and soda produced in Nam Lake while the white sea snails turn into the white sheep around the lake.
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