Wolfgang's photos with the keyword: Amdo

Our friend Albin and me, behind the coach window in background the Cuona Lake.

Amdo, written also Ando or An Duo is the last station before the high Tanggula Pass. The city was and is the home of many important Tibetan Buddhist monks (or lamas), scholars who had a major influence on both politics and religious development of Tibet . Forty-four railway stations are to be built, among them Tanggula Mountain railway station, at 5,068 m the world's highest (Cóndor station, at 4,786 m, on the Rio Mulatos-Potosí line, Bolivia, and La Galera station at 4,777 m, in Peru, being the next highest). The Qingzang Railway project involved more than 20,000 workers and over 6,000 pieces of industrial equipment, and is considered one of China's major accomplishments of the 21st century.

Fencing and ground rasters are built to protect the harvest against the erosion due heavy weather conditions.

Nagqu is in the northern of Tibet. The name "Nagqu" comes from the Nagqu River which is the upper reaches of the Nujiang River. In the past, the river was also called "Heihe" (Black River). Today, "Nagqu" is generally referred to as Nagqu Prefecture.

There are also waterfowls playing in the lake and herds of cattle and sheep running in the grassland, which add much lively color to the lake. Just imagine how fascinating the lake would be when being further illuminated by the blue sky, white clouds and extensive grassland.

Looking from the train, you'll probably be magnetized when sighting the picturesque Cuona Lake. The lake just looks like a bluish mirror reflecting the surrounding high mountains in the water.

The lake covers an area of about 400 sq km. It is the source lake of Nu River, which is confluence for all the streams and rivers of the southern Tanggula Mountain. Being about 4,650 m above the sea level, the lake is also the highest fresh water lake in the world. Local Tibetans worship it as the 'Holy Lake', every year of dragon on the Tibetan Calendar thousands of pilgrims will trek here to pray for good fortune.

Cuona Lake is located within Amdo County, not far away from Amdo Railway Station. It is the nearest lake to the Tibet Railway, with a distance of less than 100 m at the closest point.

A herd of sheep graze at the other pool side, finding its sparely food on the ground in this high altitude. Amdo is one of the three traditional states of Tibet. Amdo encompasses a large area from the Machu River (Yellow River) to the Drichu river (Yangtze River). While culturally and ethnically a Tibetan area, Amdo has been administered by a series of local rulers in recent centuries.