Attabad Lake - a wonder born from disaster

Lake Attabad, also known as Lake Gojal, is renowned for its majestic mountain ranges and uniquely mesmerizing blue waters. The lake's stunning blue hue blends seamlessly with the sky, creating a breathtaking natural masterpiece. Nestled amidst the magnificent Karakoram Mountains in northern Pakistan, Lake Attabad is currently the largest lake in the Gilgit-Baltistan region.

The lake's beauty is entirely a creation of nature, but in a very special way, dating back 10 years. The story begins with the Karakoram Highway – the world's highest paved international highway, stretching 1,290 km and connecting the Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan provinces of Pakistan with the Xinjiang region of China. Construction of the Karakoram Highway began in 1959 and was completed 20 years later, in 1979, by the governments of China and Pakistan. Countless hours of hard work, sweat, and even blood were shed by construction workers to build this road. For these reasons, the Karakoram Highway is被称为 "the eighth wonder" of the world.

Karakoram Highway được mệnh danh là — The Karakoram Highway is known as the "eighth 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 Lake Attabad, which is approximately 21 km long and over 100 m deep.

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The lake submerged more than 170 houses, 120 shops, 4 villages, and Buddhist and Islamic relics. The landslide disaster left the surrounding residents short of food and essential goods due to the blockage of the Karakoram Highway. When the highway was flooded, vehicles and goods had to be transported on the water by wooden boats. These journeys might be a novel and enjoyable experience for tourists, but for the local people, it was a real tragedy.

Hồ Attabad chạy dọc theo thung lũng hẹp như một “con rắn” màu xanh lam khổng lồ — Lake Attabad stretches along the narrow valley like a giant blue "snake".

Stretching along the narrow valley like a blue "snake," Lake Attabad is a striking feature that complements the spectacular beauty of the Gilgi Valley and the Hunza River. Surrounding it are dozens of other stunning blue mountain lakes.

Hồ Attabad được du khách trên khắp thế giới lui tới để ngắm nhìn một kỳ quan đặc biệt do bàn tay của thiên nhiên tạo ra — Lake Attabad attracts tourists from all over the world who come to admire a unique natural wonder.

Five years after the disaster, the Karakoram Highway was rerouted along the lake's shore. Life for the locals returned to its normal rhythm. Several hotels and guesthouses sprang up around the lake. Recreational activities also increased, ranging from boating and jet skiing to water sports and fishing on the lake. Today, Lake Attabad is visited by tourists from all over the world to admire this extraordinary natural wonder.