Lakes on China’s rugged western Tibetan Plateau

iss074e0603590 (May 20, 2026) --- Lakes on China’s rugged western Tibetan Plateau—an area known for high altitude, extreme weather, and limited infrastructure—are pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 259 miles above Asia. The lakes’ colors, ranging from turquoise to deep indigo, depend on sunlight and weather, and most are saline.