is the largest freshwater
lake in India and lies in the
Kashmir Valley, 40 km northwest of
Srinagar City in the Northwest of India. With a size of 189 sq. km,
is also one of the largest freshwater
lakes in Asia. The
lake lies at an altitude of 1,580 m. Its maximum depth is 14 metres, it has a length of 16 km and a breadth of 10 km.
plays a significant role in the hydrographic system of the
Kashmir Valley by acting as huge absorption basin for annual floodwater. The
lake and its surrounding extensive marshes have an important natural
wildlife. The rivers Bohnar, Madamati and Erin from the mountain ranges and the rivers Vetasta (Jhelum) and the Ningal from the south bring hundreds of tons of silt into the
every year. This rampant siltation and the human encroachments have devastating effects on the
lake.
In recognition of its biological, hydrological and socio-economic values, the
was included in 1986 as a Wetland of National Importance under the Wetlands Programme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for intensive conservation and management purposes. Subsequently in 1990, it was designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
is a sustainable wintering site for a number of migratory waterfowl species such as Little Egzet (Egretta garzetta), Cattle Egzet (Bubulcus ibis), Shoveler (Anas clypeata), Common Pochard (Aythya farina) and Mallard. Birds like Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) and Pallas´s Fish-eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) are species listened in the Red List of IUCN. Many terrestrial bird species observed around the
lake are Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), Little Cuckoo (Piaya minuta), European Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus) and Himalayan Pied Woodpecker (Dendrocopos himalayensis albescens).
is also an important habitat for
fish and contributes about 60 percent of the
fish yield of the
Kashmir Valley. The dominant
fish species found in the
lake are: Cyprinus carpio, Barbus conchonius, Gambusia affinis, Nemacheilus sp., Crossocheilus latius, Schizothorax curvifrons, S. esocinus, S. planifrons, S. micropo