Know Your Motherland – Wular
Lake
By Maharaj
Krishen Raina
Milchar Jan-Feb 2012
Photo Courtesy : Yogesh Masuria
Wular Lake, the
largest fresh water lake in India, is situated at a distance of about 40 Kms.
towards north-west of Srinagar. It is said to be formed as a result of tectonic
activity.
Wular Lake is
about 189 Sq. Kms. in area which varies from season to season. It lies at an
altitide of 1580 Mtrs. It has a length of 16 Kms. and a breadth of 10 Kms. Its
maximum depth is 14 Meters. The deepest part of the Lake is known as Mota Khon
which means Gulf of Corpses. The Sopore and Bandipora towns are located on its
banks.
Jhelum river
evacuates into the Wular Lake at Banyari, which is 40 Kms. from Srinagar and
again separates at Ningli. The flood water of river Jhelum acts as a natural
reservoir. The catchment area of the Lake is covered with coniferous forests,
alpine pastures and orchards which add to the scenic beauty of the lake.
The Wular Lake
plays a significant role in the hydrographic system of the Kashmir valley by
acting as huge absorption basin for annual flood water. The Lake and its
surrounding marshes have an important natural wildlife. The Lake is the home to
as many as 50 species of aquatic animals and several migratory and resident
birds which include waterfowl species such as Little Egzet (Egretta garzetta),
Cattle Egzet (Bubulcus ibis), Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Aythya
farina) and Mallard. Birds like Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) and
Pallas´s Fish-eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) are species listed in the Red List
of IUCN. Many terrestrial bird species observed around the lake are Short-toed
Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Little Cuckoo (Piaya minuta), European Hoopoe (Upupa
epops), Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus) and Himalayan Pied Woodpecker (Dendrocopos
himalayensis albescens).
In 1986, the
lake was designated as a Wetland of National Importance under the Wetlands
Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for
the purpose of conservation and management. In 1990, it was assigned as a
Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
The rivers
Bohnar, Madamati and Erin from the mountain ranges and the rivers Vitasta (Jhelum)
and the Ningal from the south bring hundreds of tons of silt into the lake every
year. This rampant siltation and the human encroachments have devastating
effects on the lake.
[Sources:
'Indianetzone-Geography of India', 'SAVE' and 'Project Zaan Archives']
Source: Milchar
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