150
telescopes of Mauna Kea. Mythologically, the
ancient Hawaiians believed that spirits travelled
to and fro through Lake Waiau, which had no
bottom. The lake has a depth of 10 ft (approx.),
and it freezes over in winter. Scientists have
found some bacterial fl ora in the organic mud
along the shoreline.
North Halfmoon Lakes (Colorado)
The North Halfmoon Lakes , situated at 13,020 ft
MSL, are on the west side of Mt. Massive near
Leadville in Colorado, USA.
Frozen Lake (Colorado)
Frozen Lake is situated at 12,950 ft MSL, on the
south face of Mt. Bierstadt in Colorado, USA.
Ptarmigan Lake (Colorado)
There are fi ve Ptarmigan Lakes in Colorado,
USA, situated at 12,939 ft, MSL. The highest one
is between Ouray and Telluride near Imogene
Pass.
Sloan Lake (Colorado)
Sloan Lake, situated at 12,920 ft MSL, is on
the southwest side of Handies Peak near Lake
City in the San Juan Mountains, on the standard hiker’s route up through American Basin
in Colorado, USA. It is said to have an area of
5.7 acres.
Caltech Lake (California)
Caltech Lake , situated at 3,930 m MSL (12,890 ft
MSL according to a different view), is a small
lake on the NE face of Caltech Peak, near Mt.
Stanford in California, USA. This lentic body is
said to be situated at a little higher altitude than
Tulainyo Lake. There is said to be another small
pond on the east side of Mt. Williamson at about
13,040 ft MSL.
Summit Lake (Colorado)
Summit Lake , situated at 12,830 ft MSL, is on the
north side of Mt. Evans, along the road that leads
almost to the summit of Mt. Evans in Colorado,
USA. There is also another tiny little pond, at
13,300 ft MSL, on the north face of Mt. Evans
above the Summit Lake.
Tulainyo Lake (California)
Tulainyo Lake , situated at 12,802 ft MSL, is a
large and beautiful lake nestled in a curve of the
Sierra Crest, just a few peaks north of Mt.
Whitney in California, USA.
In addition to above, the Iceberg Lake is situated near Mt. Whitney at an altitude of about
12,600 ft MSL. The database does list another
Iceberg Lake near Mt. Ritter in Madera County.
6.10 Use and Abuse of Lakes
Some of the pristine human communities were
sighted along the shores of East African lakes. It
is quite likely that lakes have been exploited
throughout the history of mankind. A lake provides two main resources, namely, water and
food. A large number of living beings, including
man, are dependent on lakes as sources of both. It
would, perhaps, be quite unrealistic to suggest, in
the name of ‘wildlife protection’, that lakes
should cease to be used. Water, fi sh, AM, plankton and other lake products are renewable
resources. Hence, if prudently managed, they
could be of value indefi nitely. Thus, all aspects of
life of lakes could be retained and this constitutes
real ‘conservation’.
Nowadays, lakes have an ever-increasing
value as the site for a wide variety of recreational
interests. These include watching of wildlife,
which supports an enormous tourist industry.
This is of particular signifi cance to many Third
World countries. But affl uent people often dump
their wastes into the lakes although they appreciate the aesthetic and recreational aspects of lakes.
It is important to note here that people of
developed and developing nations sometimes
jeopardise future of lake ecosystems through
thoughtless use, as sometimes done at the present
time. Lakes must be used wisely. Otherwise, the
life they support would be in danger. A lake needs
his living community, not just for sentimental or
aesthetic reasons but in order to maintain smooth
functions of the whole ecosystem. The consequences could often be unpleasant, expensive and
irreversible, if the system fails. Water is needed
for drinking, agriculture, industries, etc. Drinking
6 Lakes of the World
telescopes of Mauna Kea. Mythologically, the
ancient Hawaiians believed that spirits travelled
to and fro through Lake Waiau, which had no
bottom. The lake has a depth of 10 ft (approx.),
and it freezes over in winter. Scientists have
found some bacterial fl ora in the organic mud
along the shoreline.
North Halfmoon Lakes (Colorado)
The North Halfmoon Lakes , situated at 13,020 ft
MSL, are on the west side of Mt. Massive near
Leadville in Colorado, USA.
Frozen Lake (Colorado)
Frozen Lake is situated at 12,950 ft MSL, on the
south face of Mt. Bierstadt in Colorado, USA.
Ptarmigan Lake (Colorado)
There are fi ve Ptarmigan Lakes in Colorado,
USA, situated at 12,939 ft, MSL. The highest one
is between Ouray and Telluride near Imogene
Pass.
Sloan Lake (Colorado)
Sloan Lake, situated at 12,920 ft MSL, is on
the southwest side of Handies Peak near Lake
City in the San Juan Mountains, on the standard hiker’s route up through American Basin
in Colorado, USA. It is said to have an area of
5.7 acres.
Caltech Lake (California)
Caltech Lake , situated at 3,930 m MSL (12,890 ft
MSL according to a different view), is a small
lake on the NE face of Caltech Peak, near Mt.
Stanford in California, USA. This lentic body is
said to be situated at a little higher altitude than
Tulainyo Lake. There is said to be another small
pond on the east side of Mt. Williamson at about
13,040 ft MSL.
Summit Lake (Colorado)
Summit Lake , situated at 12,830 ft MSL, is on the
north side of Mt. Evans, along the road that leads
almost to the summit of Mt. Evans in Colorado,
USA. There is also another tiny little pond, at
13,300 ft MSL, on the north face of Mt. Evans
above the Summit Lake.
Tulainyo Lake (California)
Tulainyo Lake , situated at 12,802 ft MSL, is a
large and beautiful lake nestled in a curve of the
Sierra Crest, just a few peaks north of Mt.
Whitney in California, USA.
In addition to above, the Iceberg Lake is situated near Mt. Whitney at an altitude of about
12,600 ft MSL. The database does list another
Iceberg Lake near Mt. Ritter in Madera County.
6.10 Use and Abuse of Lakes
Some of the pristine human communities were
sighted along the shores of East African lakes. It
is quite likely that lakes have been exploited
throughout the history of mankind. A lake provides two main resources, namely, water and
food. A large number of living beings, including
man, are dependent on lakes as sources of both. It
would, perhaps, be quite unrealistic to suggest, in
the name of ‘wildlife protection’, that lakes
should cease to be used. Water, fi sh, AM, plankton and other lake products are renewable
resources. Hence, if prudently managed, they
could be of value indefi nitely. Thus, all aspects of
life of lakes could be retained and this constitutes
real ‘conservation’.
Nowadays, lakes have an ever-increasing
value as the site for a wide variety of recreational
interests. These include watching of wildlife,
which supports an enormous tourist industry.
This is of particular signifi cance to many Third
World countries. But affl uent people often dump
their wastes into the lakes although they appreciate the aesthetic and recreational aspects of lakes.
It is important to note here that people of
developed and developing nations sometimes
jeopardise future of lake ecosystems through
thoughtless use, as sometimes done at the present
time. Lakes must be used wisely. Otherwise, the
life they support would be in danger. A lake needs
his living community, not just for sentimental or
aesthetic reasons but in order to maintain smooth
functions of the whole ecosystem. The consequences could often be unpleasant, expensive and
irreversible, if the system fails. Water is needed
for drinking, agriculture, industries, etc. Drinking
6 Lakes of the World