Gokyo Lakes
FAQFrequently asked questions
What are the Hokyo Lakes and at what altitude are they?
This is a system of 19 glacial lakes in Nepal, at an altitude of about 4700-5000 meters. The highest freshwater lakes of this size in the world - even the water here does not have time to warm up.
Where are they and how to get there?
The lakes lie in the Khumbu, the same area of Everest, in the Sagarmatha National Park. The road there is a trek for several days, and the observation peak of Gokyo-Ri rises above the lakes, after which they were named.
How many lakes are there and what is the main thing?
There are 19 lakes in total. The largest is Tonak-Cho, but the main one is considered to be Gokyo-Cho (aka Dudh-Pokhari), on the eastern bank of which the village of Gokyo is huddled.
What are they interested in besides water and height?
The lakes are considered sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists. On the Janai Purnima holiday in August, about 500 Hindus come here to bathe - and that's at that temperature.
Where do these lakes come from?
They are fed by the melt runoff of the Ngozumpa glacier, the largest in the region. In 2007, the lakes were added to the list of the Ramsar Convention as valuable wetlands.
