Gurupratap Rajan: improved details and fixed typos for consistency

2026-02-19T18:46:26Z

improved details and fixed typos for consistency

->MPGuy2824: /* top */ added alt and pushpin_map_alt

2021-11-06T05:10:19Z

top: added alt and pushpin_map_alt

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Mookaneri Lake
| other_name = Kannankurichi Lake
| image = [[File:Mookeneri(Kannakurichi) Lake.jpg|270px]]
| caption = Mookaneri Lake with the [[Shevaroy Hills]] in the background
| alt = View of Mookaneri Lake with the Shevaroy Hills in the background
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| pushpin_map=Tamil Nadu
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of the lake within Tamil Nadu
| location = [[Kannankurichi]], [[Salem, Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| coords = {{Coord|11|41|11|N|78|10|45|E|display=inline,title}}
| type = [[Lake]]
| inflow =
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = India
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|23.5|ha|acres|abbr=on}}<ref name=acrman>{{cite news|last=Ananth|first =M.K|title=Pathways to man-made islands in Mookaneri Lake demolished|newspaper=The Hindu|location=Salem|pages= |language= |date=1 September 2013|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/pathways-to-manmade-islands-in-mookaneri-lake-demolished/article5081428.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref>
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation =
| islands = 47<ref>{{cite news|last=Muthahar Saqaf|first=Syed|title=A wedding on an island with a message|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=3 November 2017|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/a-wedding-on-an-island-with-a-message/article19973958.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref>
| cities = Salem
}}

'''Mookaneri Lake,''' also called '''Kannankurichi Lake,''' is a lake in [[Kannankurichi]], in the [[Salem taluk]] of the [[Indian state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], that covers an area of {{convert|23.5|ha|acre}}.<ref>{{cite news|last= |first= |title=Mookaneri Lake bund found 'encroached upon'|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=30 December 2015|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/mookaneri-lake-bund-found-encroached-upon/article8020048.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref> It is located to the south of the [[Shevaroy Hills]], and is a major water body of [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]]. The lake is fed by rainfall from the surrounding area, including the hills surrounding [[Yercaud]], which flows into the lake via the Puthu Yeri and Kothukaran Odai streams.<ref>{{cite news|last= |first= |title=Mookaneri Lake filling up|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=26 May 2016|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/mookaneri-lake-filling-up/article7885914.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last= |first= |title=Mookaneri Looks Like Ocean|newspaper= [[Dinakaran]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=Dinakaran|date=13 August 2018|url=http://www.dinakaran.com/District_Detail.asp?Nid=878799|accessdate=13 August 2018}}</ref>

There are 47 man-made islands in the lake. Each island was created by excavating and piling lakebed clay about 10 feet high, and covers and area of a few thousand square feet.<ref name=acrman/> Initially, [[millet]] was planted on the islands to arrest erosion and help build a soil layer, before saplings of [[neem]], [[banyan]], [[Jambul|jambul]], [[Ficus religiosa|peepal]], and [[Chrysopogon zizanioides|vetiver]] trees could be planted.<ref>{{cite web|last= |first= |title=TN couple to get married on an island|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=[[The News Minute]]|date=18 October 2017|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/destination-wedding-green-style-tn-couple-get-married-island-groom-created-himself-70166|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref> The lake islands were populated by nearly 12,000 trees as of 2013.<ref name=trees>{{cite news|last=Pankaja|first=Srinivasan|title=A lake comes to life|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=15 June 2013|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/a-lake-comes-to-life/article4817432.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref>
[[File:Mookeneri lake islands.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Islands of Mookaneri Lake]]

==Restoration==
The Mookaneri Lake in Salem was dying from sewage and garbage.<ref name="trees"/> Salem Citizen’s Forum, a collective of urban citizens resurrected the lake at an outlay of Rs. 87 lakh under the public initiative.<ref name=acrman/> The Forum began work at Mookaneri in 2010 May after many pleas to the district administration failed to evoke a response.<ref>{{cite news|last= |first= |title=How a Salem citizens' body led the fight to save a lake|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=Times of India|date=2 February 2013|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/How-a-Salem-citizens-body-led-the-fight-to-save-a-lake/articleshow/18298079.cms|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last= |first= |title=Back from the brink|magazine= |location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=12 July 2013|url=http://www.frontline.in/environment/back-from-the-brink/article4840745.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last= |first= |title=How a Salem citizens' body led the fight to save a lake|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=Times of India|date=2 February 2013|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Missing-A-mass-movement-for-water-conservation/articleshow/48384454.cms|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref>

==Fauna==
[[File:Mookeneri lake salem.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Mookaneri Lake]]
Mookaneri lake is a popular bird watching destination. The floating islands in the lake area with lush growth of trees helps in providing shelter for the birds, like a birds’ sanctum and their food needs are sufficed by the waterhole or lake. The most commonly sighted birds are egret and kingfishers. Over 169 species of birds have been spotted in the lake. The [[Flamingo|Pink-feathered Flamingos]] are magnificent to watch. Apart from this [[Garganey]], [[Northern pintail]], [[Grey Wagtail]], [[Common sandpiper]], [[Rosy starling]], [[Whiskered tern]], [[Baillon's crake]], [[Yellow bittern]], [[Paddyfield warbler]], [[Citrine wagtail]], [[Streak-throated swallow]], [[Brown-headed gull]], [[Painted stork]], [[Oriental darter]] and [[Black-headed gull]] are the migratory birds sighted in the lake.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kannankurichi (Mookaneri) Lake, Salem|work=ebird|url=https://ebird.org/india/hotspot/L2604129?yr=all&m&rank=mrec|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tamil.thehindu.com/general/environment/தேடி-வந்த-பூநாரைகள்/article6895505.ece|title=Painting the town pink!|publisher=The Hindu|date=14 February 2015|access-date=2 February 2018|language=Tamil}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Saravanan|first=S.P|title=Rare birds sighted in Salem|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=17 February 2016|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/rare-birds-sighted-in-salem/article8246543.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last= |first= |title=Rare migratory birds sighted at Kannankurichi Lake|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=4 November 2016|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/rare-migratory-birds-spotted-in-kannankurichi-lake-in-salem/article5744860.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Saravanan|first=S.P|title=Rare migratory birds sighted during Pongal bird count|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=22 January 2018|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/rare-migratory-birds-sighted-during-pongal-bird-count/article22488079.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref> Bird Watchers and naturalists in the city wants to obtain sanctuary status for the lake.<ref>{{cite news|last=Saravanan|first=S.P|title=Rare migratory birds spotted in Kannankurichi Lake in Salem|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=4 November 2016|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/rare-migratory-birds-spotted-in-kannankurichi-lake-in-salem/article5744860.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref>

==Fishing==
[[File:Mookaneri Lake with Coracle.jpg|thumb|A man riding a coracle and beautiful islands of lake]]
The lake was a source of [[groundwater recharge]] for the surrounding areas. the lake has a few varieties of fishes such as [[rohu]], [[catla]] kendai and kuruvai. Fishing is carried out by local fishermen and enthusiasts. The coracles of the fishermen is a part of the beautiful lake.<ref>{{cite news|last= |first= |title=Once dry, now generates income|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=3 January 2016|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Once-dry-now-generates-income/article13977590.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref>

==Facilities==
The park has a children’s play area and mini auditorium set up in a natural environment, seating arrangements, flower pants on the bunds and walker’s path along the lake. Coracles available to visit islands of lake.<ref>{{cite news|last=Muthahar Saqaf|first=Syed|title=Mookaneri Lake, a major tourist attraction|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=26 May 2016|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/mookaneri-lake-a-major-tourist-attraction/article8647514.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last= |first= |title=Salem's green warrior|newspaper=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=livemint.com|date=7 November 2015|url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/tZc3CAq1yJcXmRlnrKEh8O/Salems-green-warrior.html|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref>

==Environmental concerns==
During Vinayaka Chaturthi every year there is a rampant pollution and damage caused to Mookaneri by the various organisations by immersing the idols.<ref>{{cite news|last= |first= |title=Confusion over immersion of Vinakaya idols at Mookaneri Lake|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=7 September 2016|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Confusion-over-immersion-of-Vinakaya-idols-at-Mookaneri-Lake/article14625485.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last= |first= |title=Petition seeks study of pollution caused to lake water|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Salem|pages= |language= |publisher=The Hindu|date=2 September 2017|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/petition-seeks-study-of-pollution-caused-to-lake-water/article19607737.ece|accessdate=2 February 2018}}</ref>

==Gallery==
[[File:Mookaneri Lake Panorama.jpg|1000px|alt=Panorama View of Lake|Panorama View from Entrance]]

==See also==

* [[Yercaud|Yercaud, Tamil Nadu]]
* [[Shevaroy Hills|Shevaroy Hills, Tamil Nadu]]
* [[Salem, Tamil Nadu]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lakes of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Salem, Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Salem district]]

Mookaneri Lake - Revision history

Gurupratap Rajan: improved details and fixed typos for consistency

->MPGuy2824: /* top */ added alt and pushpin_map_alt