68
different kinds, and aquaculture is an important
component of peoples’ livelihood.
Further, some of the earliest fl ood control
programmes were implemented in China. The
fl oodplain soil was put to good use by the
human population there. Also, the productivity
of the fl oodplain lakes was extensively exploited
for the welfare of the local people. The middle
and lower reaches of Chang Jiang (Yangtze
River) were a nursery of Chinese civilisation.
Although a number of fl oodplain lakes have
diminished with increasing reclamation for
human use, there are still >20,000 km
2 of lakes
associated with c 1,560 km of river length
between Yichang and Zhenjiang. These lakes
( c 1760 in number) are mostly between 300 and
3,000 ha in area. For example, Dongting Hu,
Poyang Hu and Chao Hu are some of the large
lakes. They rarely exceed 10 m in depth and
have a fl at bottom of thick mud. They support
important, commercial fi sheries. However, the
natural migrations of fi sh are impeded mainly
because the river is now kept within its channel
with the aid of dams. Nevertheless, most of the
commercially important species breed in the
large rivers during the natural fl oods. Their
young ones generally enter the lakes soon after
hatching. The fi sh fry are generally not abundant in the hatcheries. But they are sometimes
put into the lake in the absence of natural fl ood
cycles. Here, they eat the natural food available
in these very productive shallow waters and do
not need to be fed artifi cially.
6.1.9 Lakes in India
In India, the lakes are situated mostly in the
Himalayan region as high altitude (HA) lakes.
The Himalayan is drained by a number of rivers, which have a close relation with the HA
lakes. Thus, most of the HA lakes in India are
studied generally in association with the
Himalayan rivers.
The HA lakes in India include the lakes in
Jammu and Kashmir ( J & K) , Himachal Pradesh
(HP), Uttarakhand (UKh ) , Sikkim, Arunachal
Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland.
Incidentally, fi sheries in the Himalayan
waterbodies could be classifi ed into (a) subsistence fi shery and (b) sport/recreational fi shery.
It may be noted here that the mahseers are
important HA fi shes.
6.1.9.1 High Altitude (HA) Lakes
of Sikkim
The Himalayan province of Sikkim (area
7,096 km
2 ) lies between 27° 04′ 46″ N–28° 07′
48″ N and 88° 00′ 58″–88° 55′ 25″ E (in NE
India), with undulating terrains, mostly with
fi rst-order (original) rivers, amazing lakes, lofty
mountains and a rich cultural heritage. All these
make it a land of paradise, yet to be fully
explored. Physiographically, the altitude ranges
from one of the highest places on the earth to as
low as 240 m above MSL (mean sea level).
Sikkim has Nepal on its west, China to the north
and the east, Bhutan in the southeast and West
Bengal to its south.
Geographically , the province could be classifi ed
into four physiographic units: namely, (i) lower
hills, (ii) upper hills, (iii) Alpine zones and (iv)
snow land. The districts are (a) North district (covered mainly by snow-covered mountains, including the world’s 3rd highest mountain, Mount
Khangchendzonga, 8,598 m MSL), (b) South district, (c) East district and (d) West district. The
other mountains are Kabru, Siniolchu, Pandim,
Rathong, Kokthang, Talung, Kanglakhang,
Simvo and Jonsang. The central Sikkim is traversed by another mountain ridge in the north to
south direction.
The state of Sikkim also shelters many
Glaciers, namely, Zemu Glacier, Rathong
Glacier and Lhonak Glacier. The status of these
glaciers has become a yardstick of climate
change indication. Further, the mountain ranges
are interspersed with passes which can be used
to cross from one side to another. The important
passes are Nathula, Jelepla, Bhutan la and Chola
in the East district; Chorten Nyimala, Kongra-la,
Lungnala and Donkiala in the North district; etc.
The western part of the state has Chiwabhanjang
and Kangla.
Sikkim also has many lakes which may not be
very large in size. These lakes are both spring fed
6 Lakes of the World
different kinds, and aquaculture is an important
component of peoples’ livelihood.
Further, some of the earliest fl ood control
programmes were implemented in China. The
fl oodplain soil was put to good use by the
human population there. Also, the productivity
of the fl oodplain lakes was extensively exploited
for the welfare of the local people. The middle
and lower reaches of Chang Jiang (Yangtze
River) were a nursery of Chinese civilisation.
Although a number of fl oodplain lakes have
diminished with increasing reclamation for
human use, there are still >20,000 km
2 of lakes
associated with c 1,560 km of river length
between Yichang and Zhenjiang. These lakes
( c 1760 in number) are mostly between 300 and
3,000 ha in area. For example, Dongting Hu,
Poyang Hu and Chao Hu are some of the large
lakes. They rarely exceed 10 m in depth and
have a fl at bottom of thick mud. They support
important, commercial fi sheries. However, the
natural migrations of fi sh are impeded mainly
because the river is now kept within its channel
with the aid of dams. Nevertheless, most of the
commercially important species breed in the
large rivers during the natural fl oods. Their
young ones generally enter the lakes soon after
hatching. The fi sh fry are generally not abundant in the hatcheries. But they are sometimes
put into the lake in the absence of natural fl ood
cycles. Here, they eat the natural food available
in these very productive shallow waters and do
not need to be fed artifi cially.
6.1.9 Lakes in India
In India, the lakes are situated mostly in the
Himalayan region as high altitude (HA) lakes.
The Himalayan is drained by a number of rivers, which have a close relation with the HA
lakes. Thus, most of the HA lakes in India are
studied generally in association with the
Himalayan rivers.
The HA lakes in India include the lakes in
Jammu and Kashmir ( J & K) , Himachal Pradesh
(HP), Uttarakhand (UKh ) , Sikkim, Arunachal
Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland.
Incidentally, fi sheries in the Himalayan
waterbodies could be classifi ed into (a) subsistence fi shery and (b) sport/recreational fi shery.
It may be noted here that the mahseers are
important HA fi shes.
6.1.9.1 High Altitude (HA) Lakes
of Sikkim
The Himalayan province of Sikkim (area
7,096 km
2 ) lies between 27° 04′ 46″ N–28° 07′
48″ N and 88° 00′ 58″–88° 55′ 25″ E (in NE
India), with undulating terrains, mostly with
fi rst-order (original) rivers, amazing lakes, lofty
mountains and a rich cultural heritage. All these
make it a land of paradise, yet to be fully
explored. Physiographically, the altitude ranges
from one of the highest places on the earth to as
low as 240 m above MSL (mean sea level).
Sikkim has Nepal on its west, China to the north
and the east, Bhutan in the southeast and West
Bengal to its south.
Geographically , the province could be classifi ed
into four physiographic units: namely, (i) lower
hills, (ii) upper hills, (iii) Alpine zones and (iv)
snow land. The districts are (a) North district (covered mainly by snow-covered mountains, including the world’s 3rd highest mountain, Mount
Khangchendzonga, 8,598 m MSL), (b) South district, (c) East district and (d) West district. The
other mountains are Kabru, Siniolchu, Pandim,
Rathong, Kokthang, Talung, Kanglakhang,
Simvo and Jonsang. The central Sikkim is traversed by another mountain ridge in the north to
south direction.
The state of Sikkim also shelters many
Glaciers, namely, Zemu Glacier, Rathong
Glacier and Lhonak Glacier. The status of these
glaciers has become a yardstick of climate
change indication. Further, the mountain ranges
are interspersed with passes which can be used
to cross from one side to another. The important
passes are Nathula, Jelepla, Bhutan la and Chola
in the East district; Chorten Nyimala, Kongra-la,
Lungnala and Donkiala in the North district; etc.
The western part of the state has Chiwabhanjang
and Kangla.
Sikkim also has many lakes which may not be
very large in size. These lakes are both spring fed
6 Lakes of the World