130
Other signifi cant lakes of Nepal are Rara or
Mahendra Lake, Khaptad Lake, Tilicho Lake,
Phoksundo Lake, Dudh Pokhari, Panch
Pokhari, etc.
In addition to above, there are also some reservoirs in Nepal.
(a) The largest reservoir of Nepal, namely,
Hanumannayar (and Gandak), is situated on the
border with India. However, the Indrasarobar
Reservoir on the River Kulekhani is a small reservoir situated at 1,430 m MSL in the mid-hill
region of Nepal. It has a catchment area of
126 km
2 , and when full, it is about 7 km long,
380 m wide and 220 ha in area having a maximum depth of 105 m. Other small reservoirs
like Trisuli and Sun Kosi are not utilised for
fi shery, due to either heavy siltation (Trisuli) or
a high rate of water fl ow through the reservoir
(Sun Kosi).
The coldwater lakes of Nepal have a high dissolved oxygen level, low carbon dioxide concentrations, high transparency, low productivity and
sparse vegetation. The indigenous and exotic fi sh
of Nepal total 186 species (Shrestha 1995; Subba
and Ghosh 1996), of which 59 are endemic and
two exotic, which have been considered as
coldwater fi sh The most important indigenous
coldwater fi sh species are Neolissochilus
hexagonolepis and Schizothoraichthys spp. They
are distributed from the lowland plains (Terai),
through the hills to the Himalayan mountains up
to an altitude of approximately 4,000 m MSL.
Some coldwater fi sh species of Nepal may tolerate a wide range of water temperature, but most
of them live in water with a temperature of
10–20 °C.
It may be noted here that substantive progress
had, possibly, been made in the fi sheries subsector during the rule of the Monarchy in Nepal.
Efforts were made to obtain assistance from
international agencies, like the UNDP, FAO,
ADB, JICA and IFAD. Mainly, as a result of this,
the fi sh production in the country had increased
from 750 mt year
−1 in 1981–1982 to 10,300
mt year
−1 in 1995–1996. Presently, fi sheries of
Nepal account for about 1.5 % of the agriculture
share of the national gross domestic product
(GDP). While Warm water fi shery is a dominant
fi sh production subsector in Nepal, coldwater
fi shery in mid-hill rivers, lakes and reservoirs is
also being targeted for further development. This
contribution reviews the situation and assesses
the potential for such development.
6.9.2.4 High Altitude Lentic Bodies
of Pakistan
Pakistan, situated between 24° and 37° N, could
be distinguished into three principal regions,
namely, (a) the Northern High Mountainous
Region (NHM), (b) the Western Low Mountainous
region and (c) the Baluchistan Plateau.
There are a number of signifi cant lentic waterbodies in Pakistan. Even some of the rivers originate from lentic bodies, e.g . the River Jhelum,
arise from Lake Wular in India. There are also
lakes which are quite inaccessible, e.g. two inaccessible lakes are situated in the Neelum Valley,
namely, Rattigali Sar (3,832 m) and Dherian Sar
(3,695 m). Reportedly both the lakes were
stocked with trout. It may be noted here that out
of 33 lakes, 12 are stocked with trout, but most of
the lakes have indigenous fi shes. Brown trout is
now established in 12 lakes out of the existing 33.
Concomitant to above, the North-West
Frontier Province (NWFP) is located between
31.1° and 37.1° N. Several lakes and reservoirs in
this region also provide suitable conditions for
coldwater fi sh.
As stated earlier, there are many lentic waterbodies in Pakistan. As a typical example of a lentic waterbody in Pakistan, a brief account of
Tarbela dam is given below.
The reservoir of the Tarbela dam (on the Indus
River) is situated in a V-shaped valley. It has two
main purposes, namely, (a) storage of water for
irrigation and (b) hydroelectricity production.
The upstream part of the reservoir is largely
under the infl uence of the cool waters coming
from the Northern Areas. Hence, it maintains a
low water temperature regime throughout the
year, while the part of the reservoir closer to the
dam, especially its large Khalabat bay, is warmer.
The reservoir, therefore, provides several habitats
for fi sh. The cool Indus water maintains its fl ow
underneath a layer of warm surface water during
the warm period of the year. When the reservoir
6 Lakes of the World
Other signifi cant lakes of Nepal are Rara or
Mahendra Lake, Khaptad Lake, Tilicho Lake,
Phoksundo Lake, Dudh Pokhari, Panch
Pokhari, etc.
In addition to above, there are also some reservoirs in Nepal.
(a) The largest reservoir of Nepal, namely,
Hanumannayar (and Gandak), is situated on the
border with India. However, the Indrasarobar
Reservoir on the River Kulekhani is a small reservoir situated at 1,430 m MSL in the mid-hill
region of Nepal. It has a catchment area of
126 km
2 , and when full, it is about 7 km long,
380 m wide and 220 ha in area having a maximum depth of 105 m. Other small reservoirs
like Trisuli and Sun Kosi are not utilised for
fi shery, due to either heavy siltation (Trisuli) or
a high rate of water fl ow through the reservoir
(Sun Kosi).
The coldwater lakes of Nepal have a high dissolved oxygen level, low carbon dioxide concentrations, high transparency, low productivity and
sparse vegetation. The indigenous and exotic fi sh
of Nepal total 186 species (Shrestha 1995; Subba
and Ghosh 1996), of which 59 are endemic and
two exotic, which have been considered as
coldwater fi sh The most important indigenous
coldwater fi sh species are Neolissochilus
hexagonolepis and Schizothoraichthys spp. They
are distributed from the lowland plains (Terai),
through the hills to the Himalayan mountains up
to an altitude of approximately 4,000 m MSL.
Some coldwater fi sh species of Nepal may tolerate a wide range of water temperature, but most
of them live in water with a temperature of
10–20 °C.
It may be noted here that substantive progress
had, possibly, been made in the fi sheries subsector during the rule of the Monarchy in Nepal.
Efforts were made to obtain assistance from
international agencies, like the UNDP, FAO,
ADB, JICA and IFAD. Mainly, as a result of this,
the fi sh production in the country had increased
from 750 mt year
−1 in 1981–1982 to 10,300
mt year
−1 in 1995–1996. Presently, fi sheries of
Nepal account for about 1.5 % of the agriculture
share of the national gross domestic product
(GDP). While Warm water fi shery is a dominant
fi sh production subsector in Nepal, coldwater
fi shery in mid-hill rivers, lakes and reservoirs is
also being targeted for further development. This
contribution reviews the situation and assesses
the potential for such development.
6.9.2.4 High Altitude Lentic Bodies
of Pakistan
Pakistan, situated between 24° and 37° N, could
be distinguished into three principal regions,
namely, (a) the Northern High Mountainous
Region (NHM), (b) the Western Low Mountainous
region and (c) the Baluchistan Plateau.
There are a number of signifi cant lentic waterbodies in Pakistan. Even some of the rivers originate from lentic bodies, e.g . the River Jhelum,
arise from Lake Wular in India. There are also
lakes which are quite inaccessible, e.g. two inaccessible lakes are situated in the Neelum Valley,
namely, Rattigali Sar (3,832 m) and Dherian Sar
(3,695 m). Reportedly both the lakes were
stocked with trout. It may be noted here that out
of 33 lakes, 12 are stocked with trout, but most of
the lakes have indigenous fi shes. Brown trout is
now established in 12 lakes out of the existing 33.
Concomitant to above, the North-West
Frontier Province (NWFP) is located between
31.1° and 37.1° N. Several lakes and reservoirs in
this region also provide suitable conditions for
coldwater fi sh.
As stated earlier, there are many lentic waterbodies in Pakistan. As a typical example of a lentic waterbody in Pakistan, a brief account of
Tarbela dam is given below.
The reservoir of the Tarbela dam (on the Indus
River) is situated in a V-shaped valley. It has two
main purposes, namely, (a) storage of water for
irrigation and (b) hydroelectricity production.
The upstream part of the reservoir is largely
under the infl uence of the cool waters coming
from the Northern Areas. Hence, it maintains a
low water temperature regime throughout the
year, while the part of the reservoir closer to the
dam, especially its large Khalabat bay, is warmer.
The reservoir, therefore, provides several habitats
for fi sh. The cool Indus water maintains its fl ow
underneath a layer of warm surface water during
the warm period of the year. When the reservoir
6 Lakes of the World