105
6.9.1.4 High Altitude Lentic Bodies
of Uttarakhand (UKh)
UKh is a land of many HA lakes. The calm and
serene lakes amidst lofty peaks of the mighty
Himalayas and virgin forests are a breathtaking
sight to behold and are ample rewards for nature
and adventure lovers alike. The province has
two divisions, namely, Kumaon Division and
Garhwal Division.
HA Lakes of Kumaon Division
There are a number of HA lakes in the Kumaon
Division.
Naini Lake (‘Nainital’ or ‘Nayani Tal’)
Naini Lake (popularly called ‘Nainital Lake),
lying at 1,937 m MSL and at 29° 24′ N, is a natural
FW tectonic eutrophic (mainly due to tourism)
lake located at the centre of Nainital city. This
lake (Plate 6.15 ) lies amongst the serene seven
mountains that border this moribund water pool
and the extravagant peaks. According to story,
the left eye of Goddess Sati had fallen over here.
Hence, the name ‘Naini’ or ‘Nayani’ (eye) given
to the lake.
Its maximum length, breadth, depth, average
depth, surface area, catchment area and shoreline length are 3.5 km, 423 m, 27.3 m, 16.2 m,
48.2 ha, 397.7 ha and 3.630 km, respectively.
The lake usually portrays water transparency
36–200 cm, surface temperature 9.2–25.5 °C,
pH 7.4–8.6, DO 4.8–14.0 mg l
−1 , Ca
40–65 mg l
−1 , NO 3 36–512 μg l
−1 , PO 4
3–30 μg l
−1 , silicate 80–500 μg l
−1 , CO 3 288 μg l
−1
and conductivity 350–500 μmhos cm
−1 .
Mahseers ( Tor tor and T. putitora ), generally,
dominate the catches in this lake.
Bhimtal Lake
Bhimtal or Bheemtal Lake (Plate 6.16 ), lying
at 1,331 m MSL and at 29° 20′ N, is named after
the second Pandava brother Bhima in the
Mahabharata, who was known for his prodigious
strength. Bhimtal is a famous lake located c
25 km away from Nainital and 11 km from
Bhowali. Bhimtal Lake has an island and is one
of the largest lakes in Uttarakhand. Its maximum
length, breadth, depth, average depth, surface
area, catchment area and shoreline length are
974 m, 457 m, 25.8 m, 11.5 m, 72.3 ha, 975.4 ha
and 4.023 km, respectively. It seems to be a little
less eutrophic lake.
Plate 6.13 Memencho Lake
Plate 6.14 Kupup Lake
Plate 6.15 Naini Lake
6.9 High Altitude (HA) Lentic Bodies
6.9.1.4 High Altitude Lentic Bodies
of Uttarakhand (UKh)
UKh is a land of many HA lakes. The calm and
serene lakes amidst lofty peaks of the mighty
Himalayas and virgin forests are a breathtaking
sight to behold and are ample rewards for nature
and adventure lovers alike. The province has
two divisions, namely, Kumaon Division and
Garhwal Division.
HA Lakes of Kumaon Division
There are a number of HA lakes in the Kumaon
Division.
Naini Lake (‘Nainital’ or ‘Nayani Tal’)
Naini Lake (popularly called ‘Nainital Lake),
lying at 1,937 m MSL and at 29° 24′ N, is a natural
FW tectonic eutrophic (mainly due to tourism)
lake located at the centre of Nainital city. This
lake (Plate 6.15 ) lies amongst the serene seven
mountains that border this moribund water pool
and the extravagant peaks. According to story,
the left eye of Goddess Sati had fallen over here.
Hence, the name ‘Naini’ or ‘Nayani’ (eye) given
to the lake.
Its maximum length, breadth, depth, average
depth, surface area, catchment area and shoreline length are 3.5 km, 423 m, 27.3 m, 16.2 m,
48.2 ha, 397.7 ha and 3.630 km, respectively.
The lake usually portrays water transparency
36–200 cm, surface temperature 9.2–25.5 °C,
pH 7.4–8.6, DO 4.8–14.0 mg l
−1 , Ca
40–65 mg l
−1 , NO 3 36–512 μg l
−1 , PO 4
3–30 μg l
−1 , silicate 80–500 μg l
−1 , CO 3 288 μg l
−1
and conductivity 350–500 μmhos cm
−1 .
Mahseers ( Tor tor and T. putitora ), generally,
dominate the catches in this lake.
Bhimtal Lake
Bhimtal or Bheemtal Lake (Plate 6.16 ), lying
at 1,331 m MSL and at 29° 20′ N, is named after
the second Pandava brother Bhima in the
Mahabharata, who was known for his prodigious
strength. Bhimtal is a famous lake located c
25 km away from Nainital and 11 km from
Bhowali. Bhimtal Lake has an island and is one
of the largest lakes in Uttarakhand. Its maximum
length, breadth, depth, average depth, surface
area, catchment area and shoreline length are
974 m, 457 m, 25.8 m, 11.5 m, 72.3 ha, 975.4 ha
and 4.023 km, respectively. It seems to be a little
less eutrophic lake.
Plate 6.13 Memencho Lake
Plate 6.14 Kupup Lake
Plate 6.15 Naini Lake
6.9 High Altitude (HA) Lentic Bodies