DAL LAKE – UPSC Daily Important Topic | 30 September 2021

DAL LAKE

Topic: Environment, Lake in India

Srinagar’s Dal Lake along with five other famous ones in Jammu Ans Kashmir is to be declared protected wetlands.

ABOUT

• It is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
• It is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is named the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel”.
• It is also an important sourse for commercial operatins in fishing and water plant harvesting.
• It covers an area of 18 square kilomiters and is part of a natural wetland inculded its floating gardens.
• The floating gardens, known as “Road” in Kashmir, blossom with lotus flowers during July and August.
• The wetland is divided by causeways into four basins, Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nagin. Lokut-dal and Bod-dal each have an island in the centre, known as Rup Lank (or Char Chinari) and sona Lake respectively.
• The houseboats (Shikaras) are closely associated with Dal Lake which provide accommodation tourists in Srinagar.