Attabad Lake, also known as Gojal Lake, is known for its majestic mountains and unique mystical blue waters. The beautiful blue of the lake blends with the sky, creating a beautiful natural painting. Nestled between the majestic Karakoram Mountains in northern Pakistan, Attabad Lake is currently the largest lake in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.
The beauty of the lake was created entirely by nature, but in a very special way, 10 years ago. The story begins with the Karakoram Highway - the highest international paved road in the world, 1,290 km long, connecting the provinces of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan with the Xinjiang region of China. The Karakoram Highway was started by the governments of China and Pakistan in 1959 and completed 20 years later, in 1979. A lot of effort, sweat and even blood of countless construction workers were poured into making this road. For these reasons, the Karakoram Highway is known as the "8th wonder" of mankind.
Karakoram Highway is known as the "8th wonder" of the world.
However, on January 4, 2010, a devastating landslide occurred in the village of Attabad in Gilgit-Baltistan. The landslide killed at least 20 people, displaced 6,000 people in upstream villages, and blocked the flow of the Hunza River for five months. More than 19 km of the Karakoram Highway was submerged, creating Attabad Lake, which is about 21 km long and more than 100 m deep.
The lake has submerged more than 170 houses, 120 shops, 4 villages and Buddhist and Muslim relics. The landslide disaster has pushed the surrounding people into a state of shortage of food and essential goods due to the blockage of the Karakoram Highway. When the highway is flooded, vehicles and goods have to move on the water in wooden boats. The trips may be a fun novelty for tourists, but for the locals, it is actually a sadness.
Attabad Lake runs along the narrow valley like a giant blue “snake”
Running along the narrow valley like a blue “snake”, Attabad Lake is like a highlight of the breathtaking beauty of Gilgi Valley and Hunza River. It is also surrounded by dozens of beautiful blue mountain lakes.
Attabad Lake is visited by tourists all over the world to see a special wonder created by the hands of nature.
Five years after the disaster, the Karakoram Highway was rerouted along the lakeshore. People's lives have since returned to normal. A number of hotels and motels have sprung up around the lake. Recreational activities have also gradually increased, from boating, jet skiing, water sports or fishing on the lake... Today, Attabad Lake is visited by tourists from all over the world to admire a special wonder created by the hands of nature.
Poetic beauty from a natural disaster...
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