Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. It is located near Moirang in Manipur state of India. It is also called the world's only floating lake, because small islands float in the water. These small islands are known as phumdis which are made of soil, trees and organic matter and are hardened like earth. These phumdis have covered a large portion of the lake. It is an amazing feeling to see this beautiful lake made of phumdis which can be experienced only at this place in the entire world. The largest of all the phumdis covers an area of 40 km2 and is situated on the southeastern shore of the lake. Keibul Lamjao National Park is the only floating national park in the world which is located on this phumdi. The rare species deer, named Sangai are also found in this park.
Loktak Lake is a major contributor to the economic development of Manipur. The water of this lake is used for hydropower generation, irrigation and drinking water supply. Apart from this, this is also the source of livelihood of fishermen living near this lake. These fishermen are called "phumshongs" in the local language. Phumdis are used by local people for fishing, making their own cottage and other uses. The fishery art of these fishermen is also very unique. Human activity has led to severe pressure on the lake ecosystem. You will be surprised to know that more than 100,000 people are dependent on this lake.
Due to the increasing deterioration of the phumdis and the increasing pressure of human activity, the lake has been divided mainly into the northern, central and southern zones. The Northern zone is separated from the central zone by large phumdis that stretches from the northwest to the southeast. In the middle of January to March these phumdis are burnt to make a place for construction of fish cum paddy farms. The central part is the main open part of the lake, where there was less phumdis as compared to earlier, but in the last few years the villagers made there artificial phumdis for fishing, which they called Athaphums. Artificial structures like these have proliferated choking the entire lake. The Southern Zone encompasses the Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Loktak Lake is also full of a rich biodiversity with habitat heterogeneity. The lake’s rich biological diversity comprises 233 species of aquatic macrophytes of emergent, submergent, free-floating and rooted floating leaf types. There are around 57 species of waterbirds, 14 species of wetland associated birds and 28 species of migratory waterfowl live in the lake. Apart from this, there are 425 species of animals, which include Indian python, sambhar and barking deer.
Loktak Lake is a major contributor to the economic development of Manipur. The water of this lake is used for hydropower generation, irrigation and drinking water supply. Apart from this, this is also the source of livelihood of fishermen living near this lake. These fishermen are called "phumshongs" in the local language. Phumdis are used by local people for fishing, making their own cottage and other uses. The fishery art of these fishermen is also very unique. Human activity has led to severe pressure on the lake ecosystem. You will be surprised to know that more than 100,000 people are dependent on this lake.
Due to the increasing deterioration of the phumdis and the increasing pressure of human activity, the lake has been divided mainly into the northern, central and southern zones. The Northern zone is separated from the central zone by large phumdis that stretches from the northwest to the southeast. In the middle of January to March these phumdis are burnt to make a place for construction of fish cum paddy farms. The central part is the main open part of the lake, where there was less phumdis as compared to earlier, but in the last few years the villagers made there artificial phumdis for fishing, which they called Athaphums. Artificial structures like these have proliferated choking the entire lake. The Southern Zone encompasses the Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Loktak Lake is also full of a rich biodiversity with habitat heterogeneity. The lake’s rich biological diversity comprises 233 species of aquatic macrophytes of emergent, submergent, free-floating and rooted floating leaf types. There are around 57 species of waterbirds, 14 species of wetland associated birds and 28 species of migratory waterfowl live in the lake. Apart from this, there are 425 species of animals, which include Indian python, sambhar and barking deer.
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