Bashqar Gol Lake

Bashqar Gol Lake (Urdu: بشقارگول جھیل; Khowar: بشقارگول چھت)^[1] is a high altitude alpine lake located in the Laspur valley of Upper Chitral District, about 170 kilometres (110 mi) from Chitral town, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.^[2][3] The lake is accessible by a four-wheel drive vehicle to the village of Sor Laspur followed by a 20 kilometers hike, and is often utilized for camping on the way to base camp of the peak Thalo Zom or to cross Thalo Pass.^[4]

The Bashkargol Lake lies at the foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains at an elevation of 3,679 m (12,070 ft),^[2] surrounded by meadows on its south, forest on its north, and mountains on its east and west. It covers an area of 200 ha (2.0 km²).^[2] The Bashkargol lake is fed by melting glaciers and springs of the Hindu Kush mountain including the glaciers from Thalo Zom, Gochhar Sar and Kharakhali Peaks. The outlet from the lake gives rise to Laspur River, the major left tributary of the Chitral River which meets the Yarkhun River at the town of Mastuj to form the Mastuj River.

During the winter, the Bashkargol lake freezes and is covered by heavy snow. In the summers, the basin of the lake is surrounded by a sheet of alpine flowers like rose hip and gentian. Apart from it, the lake is encircled by diverse pinus species which serves as an abode for wild birds, as well as Himalayan brown bears.^[2]

Although a much lesser-known lake, in recent year it has gained popularity as a camping spot for the locals of Laspur Valley as well as hikers who traverse from Chitral valley to Kumrat Valley in Upper Dir via Thalo Pass. It is also a stopover for mountaineers approaching the base camp of Thalo Zom peak.^[1]

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