Naltar Lakes


There are four major alpine lakes in Naltar Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Known as Naltar Lakes or Bashkiri Lakes, they are located at altitudes ranging from.
The best time to visit the lakes is from May to October. During the winter, it becomes almost impossible to reach the lake by vehicle due to the heavy snowfall in Naltar Valley.

The Lakes

Bashkiri Lake I or Satrangi Lake

The first and largest of all lakes is Bashkiri Lake I or Satrangi Lake. The name "سترنگی" means 'seven-colored' in Urdu, so called because of the many shades of blue and green visible on the surface of the lake due to the moss, grasses, aquatic plants and roots of the trees in and around the lake. It is located about from Upper Naltar. The road up to the lakes is a dirt road alongside a stream flowing down the valley. The lakes are surrounded by dense pine forests.

Bashkiri Lake II or Blue Lake

The second lake has blue colored water and is so called Blue Lake.

Bashkiri Lake III or Feroza Lake

The third has azure colored water and is thus called Feroza Lake. "فیروزہ" in Urdu means azure color.