Manasbal Lake

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  aalibasant

  Surface area [km2] 2.81 Volume [km3]=0.0128 Maximum depth [m]=13 Mean depth [m]=4.5 Length of shoreline [km]=10.2 Catchment area [km2]=33 Manasbal Lake is located about 30 km north of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir State. It is considered as the 'supreme gem of all Kashmir lakes' with lotus nowhere more abundant or beautiful than on the margins of this lake during July and August. It is the deepest lake of Kashmir valley and perhaps the only one that develops stable summer stratification. Manasbal is classified as warm monomictic lake and circulates once in a year for a short time. Close to the northern shore are the ruins of a fort which was built in 17th century by a Moghul king to cater the needs of caravans that used to travel from Panjab to Srinagar. On the south, overlooking the lake is a hillock-Ahtung which is used for limestone extraction. The eastern part is mainly mountainous and towards the north is an elevated plateau known as 'Karewa' consisting of lacustrine, fluviatile and loessic deposits. The origin of the lake is still unresolved but there is no denying the fact that Manasbal is very ancient. The local people believe in the legend that the lake is bottomless. Over the years as a result of human pressure the lake has become eutrophic. The water body is virtually choked with submerged weeds particularly during summer which is the high tourist season. The deep water layers become anoxic with considerable accumulation of hydrogen sulphide.

  15 years ago | reply | hide comment