Namatso Lake is located 112 kilometers north west of Tibet's capital Lhasa. The name Namatso means ‘heavenly lake’. It is the largest lake in Tibet and is a salt lake which is 4,718 meters above sea level. The lake occupies an area of over 19,000 square kilometers and has 5 large uninhabited islands and a couple of rocky outcrops. The islands used to be used as a spiritual retreat by pilgrims who reach them by walking across the frozen lake in the late winter. They spend the entire summer there until the lake freezes over again in the winter. The Tashi Dor Monastery is located on the lake and the Zhaxi Temple is located nearby. There are a large number of migratory birds and animals who live on and around the lake.