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The Saltmen of Tibet

Since time immemorial, the nomadic herdsmen of northern Tibet have lived in an extremely harsh environment on the high plateau of the Himalayas, pasturing their yaks in the highest meadows of the world. In the spring of each year, the men of one tribe of nomads sets off with their robust pack animals on the long and difficult journey to the salt lakes. These lakes in the Himalayas are among the world’s largest reserves of salt, which is increasingly exploited on an industrial basis and transported away by truck. The film follows one of the traditional nomadic caravans, steeped in religious ritual but doomed by technological progress, as its sets off to the salt lakes with well over a hundred yaks which will be used to haul this “white gold” back to their native valleys.

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  1. Made back in the days when documentaries were not about overloading you with opinion but when they were simply just beautifully filmed, noninvasive followings of receding languages and cultures.

  2. Simply breathtaking scenery at 53:20. Well worth watching the whole documentary, to join the journey of these nomadic Mongolians – what a treasure.

    PS

    Check out the award winning mongolian movie ‘The Story of the Weeping Camel’ –  I think it’s on Google Video.

  3. Singing lady in the beginning gets annoying, No English