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- The renowned Chinar Boat Race 2024 was recently held on Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, organized by the Army.
- About Dal Lake:
- Dal Lake is a picturesque, mid-altitude lake located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
- It is encircled by the Pir Panjal mountain range.
- Often referred to as the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel.”
- It ranks as the second-largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Spanning an area of 18 square kilometers, Dal Lake is part of a natural wetland covering 21.1 square kilometers.
- The wetland is divided by causeways into four distinct basins: Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, and Nagin (although Nagin is sometimes considered a separate lake).
- The lake’s shoreline stretches approximately 15.5 kilometers (9.6 miles) and is surrounded by a scenic boulevard, adorned with Mughal-era gardens, parks, houseboats, and hotels.
- During the months of July and August, the floating gardens, known locally as “Raad,” bloom with vibrant lotus flowers.
- Dal Lake is also famous for its floating market, where vendors use wooden boats (Shikaras) to sell goods to tourists.
- The water depth varies, ranging from a maximum of 6 meters to a minimum of 2.5 meters.
- In winter, temperatures can dip as low as −11 °C (12 °F), causing parts of the lake to freeze.
- Islands:
- Dal Lake is home to three islands, two of which feature majestic Chinar trees.
- Roph Lank (Silver Island) is situated on Lokut Dal and is distinguished by the presence of Chinar trees at its four corners, giving it the name Char-Chinari (Four Chinars).
- Sone Lank (Gold Island) lies on Bod Dal and offers a stunning view of the Hazratbal Shrine.
- Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is experiencing an increase in the arrival of migratory birds as the winter season begins.
- About Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Location: Situated on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Morigaon district, Assam, near Guwahati.
- It was established as a reserve forest in 1971 and later designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1987.
- The sanctuary is renowned for hosting the highest population density of the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, with approximately 102 rhinos in an area of 38.8 square kilometers.
- Landscape:
- The sanctuary is characterized by alluvial lowlands and marshy terrain.
- The Brahmaputra River forms the northern boundary of the sanctuary, while the Garanga Beel defines its southern boundary.
- Flora:
- About 72% of Pobitora is covered by wet savannah, featuring vegetation like Arundo donax, Erianthus ravennae, Phragmites karka, Imperata cylindrica, and various Saccharum species.
- Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a significant issue, particularly for waterfowl, as it creates dense mats on the water surface.
- Fauna:
- In addition to the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, Pobitora is home to animals like leopards, wild boars, barking deer, and wild buffaloes.
- The sanctuary also supports over 375 species of resident and migratory birds, including the Indian Pied Hornbill, Osprey, Hill Myna, and Kalij Pheasant.
- The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution recently visited the Dibang Multi-Purpose Hydro Power project site in Dambuk village, Arunachal Pradesh, as part of her two-day visit to the Lower Dibang Valley district.
- About Dibang Multi-Purpose Hydro Power Project:
- The Dibang Multi-Purpose Hydro Power Project is a flood control and hydroelectric power initiative located on the Dibang River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River in Arunachal Pradesh.
- With an installed capacity of 2,880 MW, it is set to become the largest hydropower project in India.
- The project is being developed by the state-owned National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
- It is designed not only to generate power but also to serve as an energy storage facility and provide flood moderation.
- Project Features:
- The project involves the construction of a 278-meter-high, 375-meter-long concrete gravity dam, which will be the tallest of its kind in India.
- The dam will be built using the Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) method, making it the highest RCC dam in the world.
- The dam will create a 43 km long reservoir with a total storage capacity of 3.85 billion cubic meters.
- The project will also include six horseshoe-shaped head race tunnels, ranging in length from 300 to 600 meters and with a diameter of 9 meters, an underground powerhouse, and six horseshoe-shaped tail race tunnels, each between 320 and 470 meters in length and 9 meters in diameter.