Nine holy lakes in Tibet

Mapam Yumco

Mapam Yumco is nearly 4,500 meters above sea level, 77 meters deep and traces about 90 kilometers along its circumference. "Mapum Yamco" means "Invincible Jake Lake" in Tibetan, with "Mapum" meaning undefeatable. It is the oldest and most sacred lake for Buddhist, Hindu, and Bon religions.

Buddhists believe the water is so holy that it can purify a person's heart and soul of troubles or evil spirits. Records in the Tripitaka say that in northern India there is a snow mountain that has four sources of water under its snow. This snow mountain is Mount Kailash. The four water sources come from Mapum Yumco through Tachog Tsangpo River in the East, Macha Khabap River from the South, Langchen Khabap River in the West and Sengye Khabap River in the North.