| Ansoo lake | |
| Location: | Kaghan, Himalaya |
| Type: | Lake |
| Basin Countries: | Pakistan |
| Elevation: | 4250m (13,940feet) |
| Pushpin Map: |
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| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location of lake in Pakistan |
Ansoo Lake, (Urdu: {{nq|آنسو جھیل), translated as Teardrop Lake, is situated in the Kaghan Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
As its name suggests, it is a tear-shaped body of water located in Pakistan's Mansehra District.[1] [2]
At an elevation of above sea level, Ansoo Lake stands as one of the highest lakes in the Himalayan Range. It lies in proximity to Malika Parbat, the tallest peak in the Kaghan Valley.[3]
Ansoo Lake was stumbled upon in 1993 by Pakistan Air Force pilots flying at a relatively low altitude over the region.[4] Growing tourism has strained the path to the lake and its natural surroundings, revealing its ecological fragility.[5] [6]
Locals believe that the lake earned the name Ansoo due to a very romantic love story linked to its existence.
Its story is linked to the Saif ul Malook lake. It is believed that there was a legendry prince in Kaghan named Saif ul Malook who fell in love with the princess fairy Badar Jamal and was named to honor their love Saif Ul Malook lake. Meanwhile, a demon Duo Safaid (White Giant) also fell in love with the fairy Badar Jamal.[7]
Therefore, demon Duo Safaid kidnapped the fairy tale but he came to know that the fairy could not stop her love for the Prince, Duo Safaid started to cry. He cried for such a long time that its tears thus created Ansoo Lake .[8]