Surigh Yilganing Kol (also known as Salikyila Genzhi Tso, zh; 萨利吉勒干南库勒) is an alkaline lake[1] located in the disputed territory of Aksai Chin in Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang province of China.

Surigh Yilganing Kol
Image of the lake taken from space
Sentinel-2 image (2021)
Location of the lake within Xinjiang
Location of the lake within Xinjiang
Surigh Yilganing Kol
LocationAksai Chin, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang
Coordinates34°41′09.51″N 79°41′21.49″E / 34.6859750°N 79.6893028°E / 34.6859750; 79.6893028
Surface area70.8 km2 (27.3 sq mi)
Surface elevation4,800 m (15,700 ft)
FrozenWinter
Map

Location edit

The lake is located in the southeast part of Lingzi Thang plains,[citation needed] and can be reached through an unpaved road passing from north bank of Lake Songmuxi Co. The road originates as an offshoot of China National Highway 219 at 35°38′46.34″N 80°18′33.85″E.[2]

History edit

In the 1950s, prior to the Sino-Indian War, India collected salt from this lake and two other lakes in Aksai Chin to study the economic feasibility of potential salt mining operations. Only Aksai Chin Lake was deemed economically viable.[3][4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Different lake flavours, China". gallery.proba-v.vgt.vito.be. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  2. ^ "Bayi Daban, courage is required to drive to the summit". www.dangerousroads.org. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  3. ^ Brig Amar Cheema, VSM (31 March 2015). The Crimson Chinar: The Kashmir Conflict: A Politico Military Perspective. Lancer Publishers. pp. 157–158. ISBN 978-81-7062-301-4. ...though neither side had any physical presence there. The advantage India had was that she administered the grazing grounds and even collected salt from Amtogor Lake, deep in Aksai Chin.
  4. ^ Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (India) (1958). Technical Report. p. 127. Brines from (i) Pong Kong, (ii) Sarigh Jilgang Kol and (iii) Amtogor lakes were examined for their suitability for salt manufacture. The brines from the first two sources have been found to be uneconomical for salt manufacture.