الوصف

The district of Lahaul-Spiti in theIndianstate of Himachal Pradesh consists of the two formerlyseparatedistricts of Lahaul and Spiti. The present administrativecentre isKeylong in Lahaul. Before the two districts were merged,Kardangwas the capital of Lahaul, and Dhankar the capital of Spiti.Thedistrict was formed in 1960.

Kunzum la or the Kunzum Pass (altitude 4,551 m; 14,931 ft) istheentrance pass to the Spiti Valley from Lahaul. It is 21 kmfromChandra Tal.[1] This district is connected to Manali throughtheRohtang Pass. To the south, Spiti ends 24 km from Tabo, attheSumdo where the road enters Kinnaur and joins with NationalHighwayNo. 22.[2]

The two valleys are quite different in character. Spiti ismorebarren and difficult to cross, with an average elevation ofthevalley floor of 4,270 m (14,009 ft). It is enclosed betweenloftyranges, with the Spiti river rushing out of a gorge inthesoutheast to meet the Sutlej River. It is a typical mountaindesertarea with an average annual rainfall of only 170 mm(6.7inches).[3]

It is the fourth least populous district in India (outof640).