Salt valley was also termed as the white valley . It was termed as the white lake due to the deposits of white salt like that of the sea . The main settlement of the valley is Thugji, about 80 miles south of Leh. These deposits were even used for trade purposes by the Changapas, traders of that region. This valley is surrounded by the saline mashes and wet meadows which gives support to the aquatic life in the sea. Punga valley about 15 miles away from here is famous for its borax as well as sulphur mines. The average height of this region is 1500 kilometers.