Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Wular Lake
Why in the News?
The harvest of water chestnuts, locally known as goer has begun around “Wular Lake” in Kashmir.
About Wular Lake:
Details | |
Location | Bandipore district, Jammu and Kashmir |
Size | Largest freshwater lake in India, second-largest in Asia |
Area | Covers 200 sq. km, with a length of 24 km and breadth of 10 km |
Source | Fed by the Jhelum River; Streams Madhumati and Arin. |
Formation | Formed due to tectonic activity; possibly a remnant of the ancient Satisar Lake |
Island formation | Features a small island called Zaina Lank, constructed by King Zainul-Abidin |
Ecological Significance | Ramsar Wetland Site (since 1990), supports wintering, staging, and breeding of many bird species |
Wildlife | Important for bird species like black-eared kite, Himalayan monal, Himalayan golden eagle |
Fish Habitat | Accounts for 60% of the fish production in Jammu and Kashmir |
Wetland status | Designated as a Wetland of International Importance in 1990 under the Ramsar Convention |
Tulbul Project | Located at the mouth of Wular Lake, aims to regulate the flow of water from the lake into the Jhelum River to enhance navigation and ensure year-round water availability.
Controversial due to objections raised by Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty. Currently, the project remains stalled. |
PYQ:[2018] Which one of the following is an artificial lake? (a) Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu) (b) Kolleru (Andhra Pradesh) (c) Nainital (Uttarakhand) (d) Renuka (Himachal Pradesh) |
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