Seven officers from Pumaqangtang border police station patrol the Kampug glacier at an altitude of 5,600 meters above sea level in Lhokha, Tibet autonomous region, on Aug 19, 2020. [Photo by WANG JING/CHINA DAILY]

Officers at Tibetan station overcome altitude sickness, heavy snowfalls, cold temperatures and UV rays

At 5,373 meters above sea level, the border police station at Pumaqangtang in Lhokha, Tibet autonomous region, is the highest in the country. There are nine police officers at the police station, which was opened in March 2012.

The majority of them are from outside the area and are age 30 on average. After living on the plateau for years, where exposure to ultraviolet radiation is higher than at sea level, all the officers are deeply tanned.

They also have to contend with physical challenges caused by the high altitude. The oxygen level is 40 percent lower than that at sea level, while the average annual temperature is about－7 C. Outsiders usually take a month to get used to the high altitude, but some of the police officers still suffer from insomnia caused by altitude sickness. Oxygen tanks are provided for everyone at the station.