A marathon race covering a distance of 222 kilometres will be held in Kashmir division's Ladakh region in August this year. The high course marathon will begin on August 11 and conclude on August 14 after a run up to Khardungla which is the highest motorable mountain pass in the world,down to Leh and then up to Tanglangla before finishing at Morey Plains,Race Director of Himalayan Club Rajat Chauhan said on Saturday. "At the average high altitude,the partial pressure of oxygen is less than 40 per cent than at sea level and theoxygen content of the air is less than 33 per cent of what is at sea level. This race is a testament to human fitness and endurance," he said. Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora said the event would be beneficial to "promote a pro-active domestic response to climate change in Ladakh region" which suffered due to unprecedented flood in August last year. "We hope the event would contribute tourist recovery process in a modest way besides contributing to local economy," Jora said.
