Beautiful Lake Attabad, born of a catastrophe (12 photos)

The emerald blue waters of this picturesque lake nestled among the peaks of the Karakoram range in northern Pakistan belie its tragic origins.





In January 2010, a massive landslide, possibly triggered by an earthquake, swept down the mountainside and wiped out the village of Attabad in the Hunza Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan, about 760 kilometers from Islamabad.



Rocks and soil blocked the Hunza River, causing a new lake to rapidly form. The disaster displaced about 6,000 people and damaged more than 20 kilometers of the Karakoram Highway, the only transportation artery linking the remote region to the rest of the country.





Five months after the disaster, Lake Attabad had reached a length of approximately 21 kilometers. Winding through a narrow valley like a giant blue snake, it added to the already incredible scenery of the Gilgit and Hunza valleys, famous for their turquoise mountain lakes. Over time, the reservoir became a popular tourist attraction.



Small hotels and guest houses appeared on its banks, and entertainment was organized on the water - boating, jet skiing and fishing. However, for local residents affected by the landslide, the reality was far from so wonderful.



As a result of the natural disaster, four villages were completely flooded: Ainabad, Shishkat, Gulmit and Gulkin. Apple orchards with centuries-old trees, Buddhist relics, mosques, temples and wooden houses with carved columns disappeared under the water. The army evacuated local residents to temporary camps in a nearby valley.



After the highway was flooded, people and goods were transported on wooden boats. If for tourists such a crossing was entertainment, then for truck drivers and local residents it became a serious test.



Five years later, the Karakoram Highway was rerouted around the lake, allowing life in the region to gradually return to normal.



Satellite images clearly show how Lake Attabad has blended into the mountainous landscape. About three weeks after the main landslide, another landslide occurred, further changing the contours of the shoreline.