Question: Which Is The Largest Freshwater Lake In India?
Options:
A.Chilka Lake ( Surface area 347 sq mi)- B.Wular Lake ( Surface area 12 to 73 sq mi )
C.Naini Lake ( Surface area 4.53 sq mi)D.Periyar Lake (Surface area 2,084 sq mi)
Answer: Wular Lake
If we are talking about which is the largest freshwater lake in India, then the definite answer has to be Lake Wular in Kashmir. Declared the largest freshwater lake in India and also the second largest in Asia.
Before we talk more about Lake Wular, let’s see what the Famous Kashmiri poet Mahjoor has to say about the glory of Lake Wular.
“Wular Lake is still in floods,
The North Wind howling strong;
The shore is far away, and you
Must steer your course with care.”
— Kashmiri poet Mahjoor (1885-1952)
Which Is The Largest Natural Freshwater Lake In India?
Located in the lap of paradise, Bandipora, Kashmir. Due to tectonic activity, the lake is formed from the Jhelum River.
If we search for which is the largest freshwater lake in northeast India, then also Wular Lake comes up. The lake stretches over 100 sq. miles which are about 30 to 260 sq. km.
The lake is surrounded by willow tree plantations that started in the early 1950s. Since then, Lake Wular has been considered among the most beautiful sites of natural heritage in India.
History Of Lake Wular
It has been said that Sultan Zain-ul-Abdin gave the order to build the artificial island Zaina Lake in Wular Lake in 1444.
On the basis of folklore, it is believed that on the border of the lake was once a city ruled by Raja Sudrasen. But as a punishment for his crimes, the water of the lake rose at drowned the king and his subject and city with him.
During winter, when the water level was low, submerged ruins of a temple were seen. This sighting gave fuel to the folklore.
It was Zayn-Ul- Aabidin who constructed a huge barge in the Lake and built a brick wall that rose to the water level.
Wular Lake: History Amongst Nature
Lake Wular is among the 49 other wetlands of India; all are a part of the Ramsar Site. Although it falls under “The Conventions of Wetlands”, established by UNESCO in 1971, Lake Wular faces certain environmental threats.
They include threats like fertilizer pollution, waterfowl & migratory bird hunting, agriculture, and also animal waste. The lake is now half of what it was before.
Wular has a number of fish habitation, which includes rosy barb, the common carb, mosquito fish, stone roller, and also Schizothorax. The fish from lake Wular make up the diet of thousands of people living in the area and everywhere in Kashmir.
About eight thousand fishermen depend on lake Wular for their livelihood. 60% of fish in Kashmir comes from the lake itself. People from the nearby villages also harvest the plants like the Nymphoides and the Phragmites for animal fodder.
The lake is home to thousands of birds. A few of them are the short-toed eagle, alpine swift, common cuckoo, golden eagle, and also the Himalayan monal.
Lake Wular: Tourism
Lake Wular is not only a perfect tourist attraction for Indian tourists but also recognized by International tourists as well.
Wular lake plays a very important role in further expanding the tourism of Kashmir. When people ask, “which lake is the largest freshwater lake in India” this is what they refer to.
To improve the tourism industry better in Kashmir, the Government of India came up with interesting watersports on the lake. This project was done in a joint collaboration with J&K and Kashmir tourism.
Sports such as water skiing and boating. The contract for this project was awarded in September 2011.
In 1986, lake Wular was made a part of the Wetland of National importance. This project was carried out under the Wetlands Programme by the Ministry of Environment & Forestry.
The lake was added was included due to its diverse hydrological, biological, and also socio-economic values. According to the Ramsar Convention project, the area surrounding the lake was a garbage dump. The inclusion in the Government project is for management purposes and also intensive conservation.
Restoration Of Lake Wular
In order to restore the former beauty of the lake, a development project under the National Lake Conservation Programme has been launched. For this, about 2 million trees are to be cut down.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest already approved a sum of Rs. 4 billion for the restoration project. And the work is estimated to take about 5 to 10 years of time. The schedule started in December 2011.
The SAVE organization, or South Asian Voluntary Association of Environmentalists, took an interest in this initiative and joined the project. Their aim is to conserve the ecology and the surrounding nature of Lake Wular.
Restoring such an enormous lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in India in India-controlled Kashmir, is going to be difficult. Due to continuous violent attacks, such projects are difficult to proceed with.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
The largest lake in India is the Wular Lake which is in Kashmir. It is also one of the biggest freshwater lakes in the whole of Asia.
The largest freshwater lake in the world is Lake Baikal which is in Russia. Its length is 31,500 sq. km and has a depth of 1,632 meters.
Also known as the Punnamada, it is the longest lake in India, situated in Kerala. Vembanad is also the largest lake in India. It has a length of 2033 sq. km.
Wrapping Up!
So, now you know the answer to which is the largest freshwater lake in India. India is known as a land of wonders, and Lake Wular is definitely one of the wonders of India. Lake Wular is not only the largest freshwater lake in India but also the second largest in Asia. The lake inspired many poets to write about its former glory, so restoring it is important.
Lake Wular is also home to thousands of birds and fish and underwater plants as well. The natural beauty of Lake Wular, along with the surrounding beauty of Kashmir, is what makes it a tourist attraction.
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Nabamita Sinha loves to write about lifestyle and pop-culture. In her free time she loves to watch movies and TV series and experiment with food. Her favourite niche topics are fashion, lifestyle, travel and gossip content. Her style of writing is creative and quirky.
