Attabad Lake

The turquoise lake born in 2010.

Attabad Lake did not exist before 2010, when a massive landslide dammed the Hunza River and submerged an entire village beneath water so mineral-rich it turned an almost unreal shade of turquoise. Today it stretches 21 kilometres along the Karakoram Highway, framed by bare granite peaks, and has become one of the most photographed sights in Gilgit-Baltistan. Boat rides, zip-lining and lakeside cafés have sprung up along its shore, though the scenery alone is reason enough to stop.