| Nainital Lake, Nainital | |
|---|---|
 Scenic view ofNainital from Tallital | |
  Nainital Lake, Nainital Location in Uttarakhand Show map of Uttarakhand Nainital Lake, Nainital Nainital Lake, Nainital (India) Show map of India | |
| Location | Nainital Town,Kumaon,India |
| Coordinates | 29°23′15″N79°27′27″E / 29.38750°N 79.45750°E /29.38750; 79.45750 |
| Type | Natural Freshwater Body |
| Basin countries |  India |
| Max. length | 1,432 m (4,698 ft) |
| Max. width | 457 m (1,499 ft) |
| Surface area | 48.76 ha (120.5 acres) |
| Max. depth | 30.3 m (99 ft) |
| Water volume | 0.3Tmcft |
| Residence time | 1.16 years |
| Surface elevation | 1,938 m (6,358 ft) |
| Settlements | Nainital Town |
 | |
Naini Tal, also known asNaini Lake, is a natural freshwater body, situated amidst the town ofNainital inKumaon,Uttarakhand,India. It istectonic in origin and was almost circular, until frequent landslides made it crescent shaped and has anoutfall at the southeastern end.[1][2] Nainital, along with otherlakes of Kumaon, is integral to tourism and recreation in Kumaon. The lake is also an integral part of Kumaoni folklore.
Nainital Lake in Nainital Town of theNainital district, often called the Lake District of India, is one of the four important lakes of Kumaon; the other three are Sattal Lake,Bhimtal Lake andNaukuchiyatal Lake.[3] It's the 3rdbiggest lake by surface area in Uttarakhand.
Historical records confirm that in 1839, Mr. P. Barron, who is supposed to be the first one who visited Nainital. He was an English business man in sugar trade, on an expedition accidentally coming across the lake at Nainital was so captivated that he decided to build aEuropean Colony on shores of the lake. The news magazine, theEnglishman Calcutta, reported in 1841 discovery of this lake nearAlmora.[4]
The lake is bounded by the high and steep Naina peak on the North West side, by the Tiffin Top to the south west side and snow view peaks on the north. Coniferous forest trees cover these hill ranges. The annualrainfall in the basin area of the lake is reported to be 1,294.5 mm (50.96 in). Tropical monsoon climate with maximum temperature 24.6 °C and minimum of 0.5 °C are recorded. The water is reported to be alkaline in nature (ph value of 8.4–9.3).[2]
The lake receives flows from the surrounding catchment basin which comprises the hill slopes andsprings. The hydrologic studies related towater balance andsedimentation was done usingradioisotopes for estimating/measuring the various components of theinflow andoutflow into the lake. Studies indicated that the subsurface inflow and outflow were significant – ranging from 43 to 63% and 41 to 54%, respectively, of the total inflow and outflow, except in years of exceptionally heavy rainfall. The components of outflows were the surface outflow, the subsurface outflow through the springs on the downstream side and draft through wells for meeting the water supply of Nainital town andevaporation loss from the lake surface. The mean water retention time for the lake was computed as 1.16 years for the mean annual rainfall.[1]
TheKrol group of rocks, comprisingslates,marls,sandstones,limestones anddolomites with a few small dykes intrusives, is the dominant geological formation of the lake's surroundings. The lake is deduced to have been formedtectonically. Balia Nala, which is the main stream feeding the lake is along afault line and the subsequent streams align parallel to majorjoints andfaults. 26 major drains feed the lake including the 3 perennial drains. The lake catchment has highly folded and faulted rocks due to poly phase deformation.Landslides are a frequent occurrence in the hill slopes surrounding the lake, which are steep. The slopes are highly vulnerable to landslides and mass movement due to various geological and human factors. Several landslides have occurred in the past (pictured) around the lake. Many settlements around the lake are located in landslide areas.[1]
While the Nainital district where the lake is situated (in the middleHimalayan ranges up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft), atemperate zone), is rich in flora (typicaltemperate climate plants) and fauna, the details of theflora andfauna specific to the lake and its surroundings recorded are the following.[5]
The trees and bushes grown in the region (lake's basin) with their botanical and common Indian names (in parentheses) are reported to be: a)Quercus leucotrichophoraOak (Banj); b)Aesculus indica (Pangar or Horse chestnuts); c)Juglans regia (Akhrot or walnut), d)Populus ciliata (Hill Pipal, a sacred tree); e)Fraxinus micrantha (Ash tree or Angu); f)Platanus orientalis (Chinar); g)Rubus lasiocarpus (Hisalu); h)Rosa moschata (Kunj or Musk rose); i)Berberis asiatica (Kilmora);j)Cupressus torulosa (Surai orHimalayan cypress); k)Rhododendron arboreum (Buruns);Cedrus deodara (Deodar); l)Salix acmophylla (Weeping Willow); and m)Pinus (Pine).[5]
The Aquatic Macrophytic vegetation recorded are the a)Potamogeton pectinatus, 2)Potamogeton crispus, 3)Polygonum glabrum, 4)Polygonum amphibium andPolygonum hydropiper (Water pepper).[5]
Several species of medicinal flora and horticulture plants have also been reported.
The fishes found in the lake are generallycarps: species ofmahseer,[a] hill trout, and themirror carp which breed several times during one spawning season during May to September. Two species of mahaseer fish are present:Tor tor, the red-finned mahseer, andTor putitora the yellow-finned mahseer, a food fish which grows to varying sizes from 20 to 60 cm (8 to 23.5 in) are reported. The three species of hill trout found in the lake areSchizothorax sinuatus,S. richardsoni andS. plagiostornus. The imported fish bred in the lake is mirror carp, a variety of the common carpCyprinus carpio.[5] The mosquitofishGambusia affinis has been introduced in the lake for thebiocontrol ofmosquitolarvae.[5]
Seven hundred species of birds and have been recorded in the Nainital district.
A scientific study indicates that the open drains feeding the lake introducetoxic substances from the catchment of the lake, particularlyheavy metals which getadsorbed onto the suspended sediments, which in turn settle down in the bottom of the lake. A study of the risk assessment code has revealed that 4–13% ofmanganese, 4–8% ofcopper, 17–24% ofnickel, 3–5% ofchromium, 13–26% oflead, 14–23% ofcadmium and 2–3% ofzinc exist in exchangeable fraction which puts the lake under the low to medium risk category and infers that it could enter intofood chain and also cause deleterious effects toaquatic life. This study provides the basic database to formulate guidelines for thedredging operations and/or restoration programmes in the lake.[6]
The water quality studies carried out by the National Institute of Hydrology during 1999–2001 on physico-chemical parameters (pH,temperature profile, Secchi's transparency,dissolved oxygen,BOD,COD andnutrients), biological profile (density of population,biomass and species diversity of phyto,zooplankton andmacrobenthos) and bacteriological characteristics have led to the conclusion that long-termlimnological changes have occurred in the lake. Excess of nutrients inflow have contributed to theeutrophic conditions and the internal recycling of nutrients from sediments during water circulation has resulted in luxurious growth ofphytoplankton. The lake is thus anoxic and has reducedhypolimnion, winter circulation, large phytoplankton and relatively lower animal population.[1]
The problems facing the lake which were also listed in the plea in aPublic Interest Litigation (PIL) before theSupreme Court of India in 1995 seeking court directive for redress measures could be summarised as below:[1]
The National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) ofRoorkee who prepared a plan for the restoration of the lake, at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore (about US$10 million), sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, are also now guiding the restoration measures.[8] The Conservation and Management Plan evolved by NIH is not only lake centric but also proposes to tackle the immediate periphery of the lake which contributes an adverse impact on the lake. The "Nainital Jheel Parikshetra Vishesh Kshetra Vikas Pradhikaran", the Lake Development Authority notified under U.P. Special Area Development Act 1986 is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up for implementing the restoration works.[1] The restoration works that have been implemented or are in different stages of implementation are the following:
The Honourable Supreme Court of India in its judgment of 1995, in response to the Public Interest Litigation, gave the following recommendations which have also been addressed in the restoration measures mentioned above.[1][7]
(i)Sewage water has to be prevented at any cost from entering the lake; (ii) So far as the drains which ultimately fall in the lake are concerned, it has to be seen that building materials are not allowed to be heaped on the drains to prevent siltation of the lake;(iii) Care has been taken to see that horse dung does not reach the lake. If for this purpose the horse stand has to be shifted somewhere, the same would be done. The authorities would examine whether trotting of horses around the lake is also required to be prevented;(iv) Multi-storeyed group housing and commercial complexes have to be banned in the town area of Naini Tal. Building of small residential houses on flat areas could, however, be permitted;(v) The offence of illegal felling of trees is required to be made cognizable.(vi) Vehicular traffic on the Mall has to be reduced. Heavy vehicles may not be permitted to ply on Mall;(vii) The fragile nature of Ballia Ravine has to be taken care of. The cracks in the revetment of Ballia Nullah have to be repaired urgently.
In the "India Today" magazine, Prasanta Rajan, a journalist, in a preamble to the particular interest shown by the LadyDistrict Magistrate of Nainital in restoration works of the lake has very vividly described the lake in these words:
Look for the lake through the colonial windows of Pant House, a vintageEnglish bungalow on the hilltop, now submerged in wintry night, solitary with a kind ofWuthering Heights mystery. Down below, the lake is a laminated stillness, protected by seven never-sleeping hills. In the dead darkness ofKumaon, this magnificence is a distant, partially lit vision, less than real, as the hills of frozen memories make the lake a footnote in water.
TheNainital Yacht Club, housed in the Boat House Club, offers yachting facilities at the lake, where a fleet of Half Raters, designed byLinton Hope, sails.[10][11] It is also known for its boating, birding, and scenic views. The Annual Kingfisher Yachting Competition (Regatta) is held here in the third week of June.[12] TheKumaon festival which brings out the local cultures and traditions is organized every year during the winter months of October and November, by the Tourism Department.[12]
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