152
livelihood for millions of fi shermen. We may
here consider the name of Sone Beel which is
the biggest wetland in Assam. Having an area
of 3,458.12 ha at FSL, the wetland has 70 species of fi shes belonging to 49 genera under 24
families and 11 orders. The Beel depicted an
annual average fi sh yield of 335.18 mt. Further,
26 different types of indigenous and traditional
fi sh catching devices have been recorded in
Sone Beel being operated by 3 distinct categories of fi shermen. The fi shing devices show
specificity to fish type, fishermen type and
season type (Kar 2007 ). Occurrence of Hilsa
(Tenualosa) ilisha has been a unique feature of
Sone Beel. Further, the Chatla Haor seasonal
fl oodplain wetland has further distinguished
itself by harbouring juveniles (4 cm approx.) of
Hilsa (Tenualosa) ilisha .
Traditional fi sh catching devices include traps,
hooks, spears, toxins and explosives. These vary
greatly in their fabrication and modus operandi.
They often unite to localised areas. However, the
most widely used methods of catching fi sh in
lakes or wetlands are the gillnets, cast nets, encircling gears, etc.
6.10.4 Lakes for Recreation
In Europe and in North America, demand for
water-based recreation has increased enormously
over the last decade. Sports such as waterskiing,
sailing and windsurfi ng are booming, and fi shing
(from the bank and from boats) is increasing in
popularity. Interest in nature conservation and
birdwatching has also increased. There are potential confl icts between these users and the
conservationists. The presence of anglers on the
bank has a marked effect on the distribution of
wildfowl, both within a lake and between adjacent waterbodies. Nevertheless, the demands of
birds and all these people can be met by regulating who does what where.
Summary
1. The lakes of the world could be classifi ed
according to different points of views. But
broad classifi cation may enable the reader to
appreciate the holistic picture of the lakes in
the group.
2. As such, the present chapter has attempted to
display lakes under different categories. The
lakes of tropical latitudes have devoted in
dealing with high altitude and other lakes in
Africa in addition to having a discourse on
the famous lakes like Victoria, Tanganyika
and George in Uganda.
3. Other lakes in tropical countries have also
been dealt with, notably, lakes of Indonesia,
the Philippines, China, India and South
America.
4. Concomitantly, the lakes of temperate region
have been dealt with being exemplifi ed by
Great Lakes in North America, Lake
Washington, Lake Tahoe, Lakes Mendota,
Wisconsin and Green in the USA; lakes in
the UK, notably, the lakes of English Lake
District, Norfork Broads, the Lochs of
Scotland; the lakes in Hungary; lakes in
Norway; lakes in Denmark; the Alpine lakes
of Europe; the Alpine lakes of New Zealand;
etc.
5. The chapter also has signifi cantly dealt with
the lakes of the polar region, notably, the
Arctic Lakes, the Antarctic Lakes and the
Char Lakes.
6. The deep lakes are unique resources of the
globe. As such, at the cost of little repetition,
the chapter has signifi cantly dealt with some
of the deepest lakes of the world notably, the
lakes Tanganyika, Baikal, Malawi, the Loch
Ness and Loch Morar in the UK.
7. Nevertheless, the shallow lakes are also unique
with their ecological set-up and communities.
The present chapter has dealt with shallow
lakes of the world exemplifi ed with Lake
Balaton, the shallow lakes in Austria–Hungary
border; the lakes Chilwa, Chad, Naivasha in
Africa; the Lake Myvatn in Iceland; etc.
8. The saline and soda lakes have also been
dealt with examples, notably, the lakes Sala,
Zwali, Abaya, Chamo, etc. The Rift Valley
soda lakes include the lakes Magadi, Natron
and Rukwa.
9. Some information has been given on the
dammed valley reservoirs and man-made
6 Lakes of the World
livelihood for millions of fi shermen. We may
here consider the name of Sone Beel which is
the biggest wetland in Assam. Having an area
of 3,458.12 ha at FSL, the wetland has 70 species of fi shes belonging to 49 genera under 24
families and 11 orders. The Beel depicted an
annual average fi sh yield of 335.18 mt. Further,
26 different types of indigenous and traditional
fi sh catching devices have been recorded in
Sone Beel being operated by 3 distinct categories of fi shermen. The fi shing devices show
specificity to fish type, fishermen type and
season type (Kar 2007 ). Occurrence of Hilsa
(Tenualosa) ilisha has been a unique feature of
Sone Beel. Further, the Chatla Haor seasonal
fl oodplain wetland has further distinguished
itself by harbouring juveniles (4 cm approx.) of
Hilsa (Tenualosa) ilisha .
Traditional fi sh catching devices include traps,
hooks, spears, toxins and explosives. These vary
greatly in their fabrication and modus operandi.
They often unite to localised areas. However, the
most widely used methods of catching fi sh in
lakes or wetlands are the gillnets, cast nets, encircling gears, etc.
6.10.4 Lakes for Recreation
In Europe and in North America, demand for
water-based recreation has increased enormously
over the last decade. Sports such as waterskiing,
sailing and windsurfi ng are booming, and fi shing
(from the bank and from boats) is increasing in
popularity. Interest in nature conservation and
birdwatching has also increased. There are potential confl icts between these users and the
conservationists. The presence of anglers on the
bank has a marked effect on the distribution of
wildfowl, both within a lake and between adjacent waterbodies. Nevertheless, the demands of
birds and all these people can be met by regulating who does what where.
Summary
1. The lakes of the world could be classifi ed
according to different points of views. But
broad classifi cation may enable the reader to
appreciate the holistic picture of the lakes in
the group.
2. As such, the present chapter has attempted to
display lakes under different categories. The
lakes of tropical latitudes have devoted in
dealing with high altitude and other lakes in
Africa in addition to having a discourse on
the famous lakes like Victoria, Tanganyika
and George in Uganda.
3. Other lakes in tropical countries have also
been dealt with, notably, lakes of Indonesia,
the Philippines, China, India and South
America.
4. Concomitantly, the lakes of temperate region
have been dealt with being exemplifi ed by
Great Lakes in North America, Lake
Washington, Lake Tahoe, Lakes Mendota,
Wisconsin and Green in the USA; lakes in
the UK, notably, the lakes of English Lake
District, Norfork Broads, the Lochs of
Scotland; the lakes in Hungary; lakes in
Norway; lakes in Denmark; the Alpine lakes
of Europe; the Alpine lakes of New Zealand;
etc.
5. The chapter also has signifi cantly dealt with
the lakes of the polar region, notably, the
Arctic Lakes, the Antarctic Lakes and the
Char Lakes.
6. The deep lakes are unique resources of the
globe. As such, at the cost of little repetition,
the chapter has signifi cantly dealt with some
of the deepest lakes of the world notably, the
lakes Tanganyika, Baikal, Malawi, the Loch
Ness and Loch Morar in the UK.
7. Nevertheless, the shallow lakes are also unique
with their ecological set-up and communities.
The present chapter has dealt with shallow
lakes of the world exemplifi ed with Lake
Balaton, the shallow lakes in Austria–Hungary
border; the lakes Chilwa, Chad, Naivasha in
Africa; the Lake Myvatn in Iceland; etc.
8. The saline and soda lakes have also been
dealt with examples, notably, the lakes Sala,
Zwali, Abaya, Chamo, etc. The Rift Valley
soda lakes include the lakes Magadi, Natron
and Rukwa.
9. Some information has been given on the
dammed valley reservoirs and man-made
6 Lakes of the World