Today’s Image of the Day from NASA Earth Observatory features Lake Paiku, a deep lake on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The photograph is part of a series of wintertime images captured by astronauts on the International Space Station

“Thousands of lakes dot the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau—the planet’s largest and highest alpine lake system. Sometimes called the ‘world’s largest water tower,’ the plateau supplies freshwater for billions of people living downstream. Changes in lake levels can affect this important water resource, as well as influence precipitation and temperature patterns in the region,” says NASA.

Lake Paiku has been shrinking in recent years, declining by about four meters since 1972. When this photo of Paiku was taken, ice had formed on shallower parts of the lake. 

The image was captured on February 19, 2022.

Image Credit: NASA Earth Observatory 

–—

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Editor

Check us out on EarthSnap, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.