Semo La

Semo La

Elevation	5,565 m (18,258 ft)
Location	China
Coordinates	30°06′36″N 85°25′54″E / 30.11000°N 85.43167°E / 30.11000; 85.43167Coordinates: 30°06′36″N 85°25′54″E / 30.11000°N 85.43167°E / 30.11000; 85.43167

Semo La (La means "pass" in Tibetan) is a mountain pass situated in the central part of Tibet and gives access to the Chang Tang region. It is found on the so-called Northern Route, north of Raka and south of Coqen in Central Tibet. Travellers use this route as an alternative access route to western Tibet and Mount Kailash, especially when mud makes access by the more southern route difficult.

The road crossing the pass is an old unsurfaced track travelled only by a weekly bus and trucks heading west to avoid the boggy parts of the south of the country.

At 5,565 metres (18,258 ft), Semo La may be the highest vehicle-accessible pass in the world. It is the highest that has been measured accurately. Khardung La, up to now thought to be the world record holder at 5,602 metres (18,379 ft), in reality, according to modern surveys, measures 5,359 m (17,582 ft), 243 m (797 ft) less than previously thought. There are other passes that may be higher but have yet to be surveyed properly and may not reasonably be considered "motorable".

Elevation

The height of 5,565 m (18,258 ft) was calculated in 2005 by a team of researchers conducting a modern GPS survey. It accurately matches NASA SRTM data and is consistent with GPS measurements shown here.

External links

Mountain passes of China

Geography of China

Cho La Alataw Pass Bedel Pass Beyik Pass Biandukou Diphu Pass Hangu Pass Huangya Pass Hulao Pass Irkeshtam Pass Iron Gate Pass Jingxing Pass Juyong Pass Karakoram Pass Khunjerab Pass Kilik Pass Kongka Pass Kulma Pass Kunlun Pass Laken Pass Lazikou Pass Lipulekh Pass Mana Pass Mei Pass Mintaka Pass Mustagh Pass Nangpa La Nathu La Niangzi Pass Pingxing Pass Sanju Pass Semo La Shanhai Pass (Shanhaiguan) Shipki La Tanggula Pass Tong Pass (Tongguan) Torugart Pass Wakhjir Pass Wu Pass Yang Pass Yanmen Pass Yumen Pass

Landforms of China List of gaps in Hong Kong

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