Nong Fa Lake or Nongphatom Lake ('Blue Lake') is a

volcanic crater A volcanic crater is an approximately circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. It is typically a bowl-shaped feature containing one or more vents. During volcanic eruptions, molten magma and volcanic gases rise from an und ...

lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...

in the mountains of Sanxay District, Attapeu Province, southeastern Laos, in the

Dong Ampham National Biodiversity Conservation Area Dong Ampham National Biodiversity Conservation Area is an extensive protected area which covers a significant part of Attapeu Province and Sekong Province in the southeast corner of Laos on the border with Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( v ...

, about 12 kilometres from the Vietnamese border. At an elevation of 1154 metres, the maximum depth of the lake is reportedly 78 metres, although locals have claimed that the depth is unknown, having attempted fruitlessly to gauge the depth with bamboo poles.

Lonely Planet Lonely Planet is a travel guide book publisher. Founded in Australia in 1973, the company has printed over 150 million books. History Early years Lonely Planet was founded by married couple Maureen and Tony Wheeler. In 1972, they embarke ...

describes it as "magical", a beautiful volcanic lake, similar to but larger than Yeak Lorn in Cambodia's Ratanakiri Province. During the Vietnam War it was used by the North Vietnamese as a rest stop for soldiers hurt on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, as well as US pilots recorded it as a navigation point and called it "Dollar Lake" because it was round. The lake is shrouded in legend, and Laotians refrain from bathing in it because they believe it is inhabited by a giant snake-pig who will devour bathers. The hill tribes in the area say that if you do swim in the waters you will have eternal youth.

References

{{Laos-geo-stub Lakes of Laos Geography of Attapeu province