This is Qinghai Lake, China's largest. Millions of years of evaporation has concentrated the minerals in the lake, turning the water salty. Rich in fish, its waters attract thousands of cormorants. But it's not just wild life that values Tibet's lakes and seas. Their life-giving waters are also important to people. 

 

Tibetan religion is a unique mix of Buddhism and much older Shamanic beliefs that were once widespread throughout the region. This hybrid religion forms the basis of an extraordinary relationship with nature. In Shamanic belief, the land is imbued with magical properties which aid communication with the spirit world.

 

Here, animal skulls are decorated, and rocks are carved with sacred mantras, groups of syllables that are considered to have spiritual power. The reciting of the mantras is believed to create a magical sound that reverberates through the universe. 

 

The landscape is decorated with multi-colored flags which represent the five elements--fire, wood, earth, water and iron. The flags are painted with prayers to purify the air and pacify the gods. And the wind blows the prayers to heaven.

 

The poles on which the prayer flags are mounted are regularly replenished with fresh flags. The old flags are treasured. Those nearest to the top of the pole are the most auspicious, so competition for these can get fierce.