Winter Ladakh – Hot Springs of Chhangthang Plateau
Sometimes nature creates things that appear weird to us. Today’s photo is hot-springs of Ladakh in winter covered by an ice-shell!
We found these curious hot-springs during our wanderings in the high-altitude Chhangthang Plateau, Ladakh, during the winter months. Even when the outside temperature remains below zero and drops to -30 at night time, these geysers continue to spit boiling-hot water. Much of the water flows down as a stream, but a few droplets that fall away are instantly turned into snow. The result is this beautiful cone that forms a shell around the spring.
We were able to hear the sound of gushing hot-water inside the ice-cone. The insides are even more beautiful with icicles hanging on the ice-wall and a sulphurous smoke rising from its belly. Beauty PLUS fascination!
Some birds take advantage of these hot-springs. We saw ducks enjoying the stream of warm waters made by these springs. Ruddy shelducks, which generally migrate to lower altitudes in winter, were enjoying staying back here in a small flock. The avian population in the area was unusually dense for winter months in Ladakh.