A paved road to La Ken La
La Ken La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.190m (17,030ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
The pass, also known as Ken La or Lakenla, is located near the second-largest salt lake in Tibet: Namtso Lake. The road to the summit is brand new paved. It was completed in 2005. In the lower part (south) very steep, towards the top easier. The new road enables easy access from Lhasa and the development of tourism at the lake. Looking far from here to appreciate the beautiful scared lake – Namtso, it is just like a large precious mirror besetting on Northern Tibet Grassland.
At the pass, there is a stone tablet, and the Mani Pile is hanging full of Prayer flags. The weather is subject to abrupt, sudden change and snowstorms are very common. On this pass you're firmly on altitudes over 5,000m. For an unacclimatized person this can be fatal. The wind in Tibet is usually quite strong at mountain areas. High winds blow here all year long. Even in summer, the temperature might drop from 20°C at daytime to -10°C at night. In July and August, it may rain continually for several days and you even can confront with snowy days. Temperatures here in the winter are brutally cold.
Pic: Saikit Lau