Naltar Lakes
{{Short description|Group of lakes in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan}}
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{{nq|نلتر جھیلیں}}
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| image1 = Natlar Lake or Bashkiri Lake-1.jpg
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| caption1 = Naltar Lake or Bashkiri Lake I or Satrangi Lake
| image2 = Naltar Blue lake Gilgit.JPG
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| caption2 = Bashkiri Lake II or Blue Lake
| image3 = Blue Lake 2, Naltar, Gilgit Baltistan.jpg
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| caption3 = Bashkiri Lake III or Feroza Lake
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| footer = Surface elevation = 3050-3150 m{{cn|date=October 2019}}
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There are four major alpine lakes in Naltar Valley known as Naltar Lakes ({{langx|ur|نلتر}}) or Bashkiri Lakes{{cite news |last1=Ibrahim |first1=Muhammad |title=A Trip to Naltar Valley {{!}} Three Lakes of Naltar Valley |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1180628 |accessdate=14 October 2019 |publisher=Dawn |date=16 August 2018}} at altitudes ranging from {{convert|3050–3150|m}}.
The best time to visit the lakes is from May to October. During the winter, it becomes almost impossible to reach the lake by vehicle due to the heavy snowfall in the Naltar Valley.{{cite web |title=Naltar Lake {{!}} The Emerald Azure Lake in Pakistan |url=https://www.skardu.pk/naltar-lake/ |website=skardu.pk |date=6 June 2016 |accessdate=3 November 2019}}
The Lakes
=Bashkiri Lake I or Satrangi Lake=
The first and largest of all lakes is Bashkiri Lake I or Satrangi Lake. The name " سترنگی"('Satrangi') means 'seven-colored' in Urdu, so called because of the many shades of blue and green visible on the surface of the lake due to the moss, grasses, aquatic plants and roots of the trees in and around the lake. It is located at a distance of about {{convert|12|km}} from Upper Naltar (or the Naltar Bala).[http://www.lonelyplanet.com/pakistan/karakoram-highway/naltar-valley Naltar Valley] The road up to the lakes is a dirt road alongside a stream flowing down the valley. The lakes are surrounded by dense pine forests.
=Bashkiri Lake II or Blue Lake=
The second lake has blue colored water and is so called Blue Lake.
=Bashkiri Lake III or Feroza Lake=
The third has azure colored water and is thus called Feroza Lake."فیروزہ" ('Feroza') in Urdu means azure color.
See also
{{commons category|Naltar Lakes}}