Tibet's Mysterious Yamdrok Lake Is Teeming with Fish, Yet No One Dares to Eat Them

If you can endure the harsh climate, autumn and winter—when there is less rainfall and migratory birds have flown south—are considered the best seasons to visit Yamdrok Lake. (Image / Wikipedia)

The Tibetan people of Shigatse believe that fish are their ancestors, so naturally, the fish in the lake cannot be eaten casually. (Image / Wikipedia)

Known as "the last pure land on earth" and "the secret place closest to heaven," Tibet has in recent years become the fastest-growing tourist destination on the Chinese mainland, thanks to the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and people’s pursuit of spiritual harmony. In addition to the ancient Potala Palace, Yamdrok Lake, located in Langkazi County, Shannan Prefecture, Tibet, has also become a must-visit attraction for many.

In Tibetan, "cuo" means lake, so Yamdrok Lake is often referred to as "Yam Lake." Located over 150 kilometers from Lhasa, the lake covers an area of about 6,100 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of 4,440 meters. As the largest inland lake on the northern foothills of the Himalayas, Yamdrok Lake is hailed as "the most beautiful lake in the world." Its stunning landscape surpasses all others in southern Tibet—the crystal-clear lake reflects the surrounding mountains, and the lush grass by the shore makes it a thriving alpine pasture.

Yamdrok Lake features a branching distribution and boasts a rich variety of wildlife in its basin, including snow leopards, argali, otters, lynxes, wild asses, Mongolian gazelles, blue sheep, and river deer, all of which are protected species. The lake is abundant in highland naked carp and scaleless loaches, with a limited variety but an extraordinarily large population. This has also earned Yamdrok Lake the nickname "Tibet’s Fish Treasury."

It is estimated that the lake may contain over 800 million kilograms of fish. You could theoretically catch them by hand, yet no one ever does. Aside from religious reasons and the sacred inviolability of the lake, the local tradition of water burial—with fish feeding on human remains—means that mountaineers and travelers who camp here would never dare to eat fish raised on human flesh.