381
1 km on the mountain range, and the villagers
call it as Dzudu Lake . It seems to be an ideal
place for wildlife conservation. It is only about an
hour trek from Thevopisumi village to the lake.
It may be noted here that the lentic bodies in
Nagaland have not been repeated under
high- altitude lakes in Chap. 6 .
20.2.16 Wetlands of Sikkim
The Himalayan province of Sikkim (area
7,096 km
2 ) lies between 27° 04′46″ N and 28°
07′ 48″ N and 88° 00′ 58″ and 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, (1)
lower hills, (2) upper hills, (3) alpine zones and
(4) snow land. The districts are (a) north district
(covered mainly by snow-covered mountains,
including world’s 3rd highest mountain, Mount
Khangchendzonga, 8,598 m MSL), (b) south district, (c) east district and (d) west district. The
main mountains, other than Khangchendzonga,
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 mountains intercepting monsoon
clouds make the state one of the wettest in the
country.
The province of Sikkim also shelters many
glaciers (slow-moving river of ice), namely , Zemu
Glacier, Rathong Glacier and Lhonak Glacier.
The status of these glaciers has become a yard
stick 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 Nathu La, Jelep
La, Bhutan La and Chola in the east district;
Chorten Nyima La, Kongra La, Lungnala and
Donkia la in the north district; etc. The western
part of the state has Chiwa Bhanjyang and Kangla.
Sikkim also has many lakes which may not be
very large in size. These lakes are both spring
fed as well as river fed. The premier lakes of
Sikkim are Changu (Tsomgo), Khecheopalri,
Gurudongmar, Cholamu, Memencho, Lampokhari,
Samiti, etc. These lakes also form the source of
many rivers. The main river of Sikkim is ‘Teesta’
(also spelt ‘Tista’) which originates from Lake
Cholamu. Its main tributary is River Rangeet
(also spelt ‘Rangit’) which originates from
Rathong Glacier and meets Teesta.
In addition, Sikkim has many hot springs
known for their medicinal and therapeutic values.
The most important are the ones located at
Phurchachu (Reshi), Yumthang, Borang, Ralang,
Taram-chu and Yumey Samdung. All these hot
springs have high sulphur content and are located
near the river banks.
20.2.16.1 Geology
Geologically, Sikkim is formed of young folded
mountains of the Himalayan system. Halfschistose, gneissose and Precambrian are the
major young rock constituents, in which
Precambrian rock forms a big part of the province of Sikkim. The Precambrian rock is made up
of schists and phyllites, which are said to make
the slopes of the region prone to erosion and
weathering assisted by torrential rainfall. On the
other hand, the hilly regions of Sikkim are mainly
formed of two kinds of rocks, namely , halfschistose and gneissose. However, the kind of
soil prevalent in Sikkim is said to be suitable for
deciduous and evergreen forests. The soil is generally not much rich in organic matter and minerals. The texture of this soil is coarse. However,
the presence of these two kinds of rocks has rendered the soil brown and clayey.
The lentic bodies of Sikkim have been further
dealt with in Chap. 6 .
20.2 Wetlands of Northeast India (The Water Wealth of Northeast India)
1 km on the mountain range, and the villagers
call it as Dzudu Lake . It seems to be an ideal
place for wildlife conservation. It is only about an
hour trek from Thevopisumi village to the lake.
It may be noted here that the lentic bodies in
Nagaland have not been repeated under
high- altitude lakes in Chap. 6 .
20.2.16 Wetlands of Sikkim
The Himalayan province of Sikkim (area
7,096 km
2 ) lies between 27° 04′46″ N and 28°
07′ 48″ N and 88° 00′ 58″ and 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, (1)
lower hills, (2) upper hills, (3) alpine zones and
(4) snow land. The districts are (a) north district
(covered mainly by snow-covered mountains,
including world’s 3rd highest mountain, Mount
Khangchendzonga, 8,598 m MSL), (b) south district, (c) east district and (d) west district. The
main mountains, other than Khangchendzonga,
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 mountains intercepting monsoon
clouds make the state one of the wettest in the
country.
The province of Sikkim also shelters many
glaciers (slow-moving river of ice), namely , Zemu
Glacier, Rathong Glacier and Lhonak Glacier.
The status of these glaciers has become a yard
stick 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 Nathu La, Jelep
La, Bhutan La and Chola in the east district;
Chorten Nyima La, Kongra La, Lungnala and
Donkia la in the north district; etc. The western
part of the state has Chiwa Bhanjyang and Kangla.
Sikkim also has many lakes which may not be
very large in size. These lakes are both spring
fed as well as river fed. The premier lakes of
Sikkim are Changu (Tsomgo), Khecheopalri,
Gurudongmar, Cholamu, Memencho, Lampokhari,
Samiti, etc. These lakes also form the source of
many rivers. The main river of Sikkim is ‘Teesta’
(also spelt ‘Tista’) which originates from Lake
Cholamu. Its main tributary is River Rangeet
(also spelt ‘Rangit’) which originates from
Rathong Glacier and meets Teesta.
In addition, Sikkim has many hot springs
known for their medicinal and therapeutic values.
The most important are the ones located at
Phurchachu (Reshi), Yumthang, Borang, Ralang,
Taram-chu and Yumey Samdung. All these hot
springs have high sulphur content and are located
near the river banks.
20.2.16.1 Geology
Geologically, Sikkim is formed of young folded
mountains of the Himalayan system. Halfschistose, gneissose and Precambrian are the
major young rock constituents, in which
Precambrian rock forms a big part of the province of Sikkim. The Precambrian rock is made up
of schists and phyllites, which are said to make
the slopes of the region prone to erosion and
weathering assisted by torrential rainfall. On the
other hand, the hilly regions of Sikkim are mainly
formed of two kinds of rocks, namely , halfschistose and gneissose. However, the kind of
soil prevalent in Sikkim is said to be suitable for
deciduous and evergreen forests. The soil is generally not much rich in organic matter and minerals. The texture of this soil is coarse. However,
the presence of these two kinds of rocks has rendered the soil brown and clayey.
The lentic bodies of Sikkim have been further
dealt with in Chap. 6 .
20.2 Wetlands of Northeast India (The Water Wealth of Northeast India)