Gangabal Lake

Gangbal Lake
Gangbal Lake at the foot of Harmukh
Location Ganderbal, Kashmir Valley
Coordinates 34°25′50″N 74°55′30″E / 34.43056°N 74.92500°E / 34.43056; 74.92500Coordinates: 34°25′50″N 74°55′30″E / 34.43056°N 74.92500°E / 34.43056; 74.92500
Type oligotrophic lake
Primary inflows Melting glaciers
Primary outflows Nundkol Lake which drains into Sind River
Basin countries India
Max. length 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi)
Max. width 1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
Surface elevation 3,575 metres (11,729 ft)
Frozen November to April

The Gangbal Lake also called Gangbal Lake, is a lake situated at the foothills of Mount Haramukh (the second highest mountain peak in the vicinity of Kashmir valley)[1] in Ganderbal district, north of Srinagar city in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is an alpine high altitude oligotrophic lake,[2] home to many species of fish,[3] including the brown trout.[4]

The lake has a maximum length of two and a half kilometers and maximum width of one kilometre. It is fed by precipitation, glaciers and springs. The lake water outflows to a nearby Nundkol Lake[5] and then via Wangath Nallah[6] to Sind River.[7][8]

Access

The Gangbal lake is approached from Srinagar 45 kilometers by road via Ganderbal up to Naranag[9] and then a trek of 15 kilometers upslopes leads to the lake, which can be covered by a horse ride or by foot. The gujjar shepherds can be seen during the trek with their flocks of sheep and goats. Another trek (25 kilometers long) leads to the lake site from Sonamarg via the Vishansar Lake crossing three mountain passes Nichnai pass, Gadsar pass and Zajibal pass of an average elevation of 4100 meters.[10] It can also be accessed through a trek from Bandipore via Arin.[11][12] The trek to the lake Gangabal takes place in an alpine environment, (cut crossing) with meadows, (cut from) and huts of Gujjars with their herds crossing through two passes over 4,000 m to get to the lake Gangabal.

References

  1. ↑ "Trekking Kashmir". gaffarakashmir.com. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  2. ↑ Raina, HS; KK Vass (May–June 2006). "Some biological features of a freshwater fairy shrimp, Branchinecta schantzi, Mackin, 1952 in the Northwestern Himalayas, India" (PDF). J. Indian Inst. Sci. 86: 287–291. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  3. ↑ "Fishes and Fisheries in high altitude lakes, Vishansar, Gadsar, Gangbal, Krishansar". Fao.org. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  4. ↑ Petr, ed. by T. (1999). Fish and fisheries at higher altitudes : Asia. Rome: FAO. p. 72. ISBN 92-5-104309-4.
  5. ↑ "Harmukh Gangbal". kashmirfirst.com. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
  6. ↑ "Indus projects". nih.ernet.net. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
  7. ↑ Raina, Maharaj Krishen. "Know Your Motherland – Gangabal Lake".
  8. ↑ "Kashmir tourism". public.fotki.com. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
  9. ↑ "Jammu and Kashmir update". jammuandkashmirupdate.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-29. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  10. ↑ "Track to Gangabal". pttindia.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-29. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
  11. ↑ "Kashmir Treks". KashmirTreks.in. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  12. ↑ "Tracks of Kashmir". kashmirmount.org. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
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