TeresitaPennell: Creating Initial Pg Initial Version

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Creating Initial Pg Initial Version

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{{Short description|Lake in Uttarakhand, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Nainital Lake
| other_name = Nainital
| image = The Boat and The Lake.jpg
| caption = Scenic view of [[Nainital]] from Tallital
| location = [[Nainital|Nainital Town]], [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]], [[India]]
| coords = {{coord|29|23|15|N|79|27|27|E|region:IN_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| type = Natural Freshwater Body
| pushpin_map = Uttarakhand#India
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uttarakhand
| basin_countries = India
| length = {{convert|1432|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|457|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| area = {{convert|48.76|ha|acre|abbr=on}}
| max-depth = {{convert|30.3|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| volume = {{convert|8495053|m3|abbr=on}}
| elevation = {{convert|1938|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| cities = [[Nainital|Nainital Town]]
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 13
}}

'''Naini Tal,''' also known as '''Naini Lake''', is a natural freshwater body, situated amidst the town of [[Nainital]] in [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[India]]. It is [[tectonic]] in origin and was almost circular, until frequent landslides made it crescent shaped and has an [[outfall]] at the southeastern end.<ref name = execut>[http://gov.ua.nic.in/lda/ExecutiveSummary-Nainital%20Lake27-8-2002.pdf Executive Summary, Conservation and Management Plan for Nainital Lake]</ref><ref name = invent>{{Cite web |url=http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/csurv/Wetland%20Inventory.pdf |title=Inventory of Wetlands, Nainital, p.431 |access-date=8 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183104/http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/csurv/Wetland%20Inventory.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Nainital, along with other [[Lakes of Kumaon hills|lakes of Kumaon]], is integral to tourism and recreation in Kumaon. The lake is also an integral part of Kumaoni folklore.

Nainital Lake in Nainital Town of the [[Nainital district]], often called the Lake District of India, is one of the four important lakes of Kumaon; the other three are Sattal Lake, [[Bhimtal Lake]] and [[Naukuchiatal|Naukuchiyatal]] Lake.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20050529014441/http://www.worldlakes.org/uploads/Management_of_lakes_in_India_10Mar04.pdf Management of Lakes in India, Annex 2]}}</ref> It's the 3rd [[List of lakes of India#Uttarakhand|biggest lake by surface area in Uttarakhand]].

[[File: Boat-Man at Naini Lake.jpg|thumb|A Kumaoni man on the Lake in Nainital]]

== History ==
[[File:Nainital Lake 1866.jpg|thumb|A view of the south end of the lake, 1866]]
The first European to visit Naini Tal was P. Barron, an English sugar trader. Barron accidentally came across the lake after getting lost on a hunting expedition and was so captivated that he decided to leave the sugar business and build a [[Europe]]an colony on shores of the lake. The news magazine, the ''Englishman Calcutta'', reported in 1841 discovery of this lake near [[Almora]].<ref name = history>{{cite web
|author = District Administration Nainital, Government of Uttarakhand
|date = 22 December 2025
|title = History
|url = https://nainital.nic.in/history/
|website = District of Nainital, Government of Uttarakhand {{pipe}} The Lake District of Uttarakhand {{pipe}} India
|publisher = [[National Informatics Centre]]
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20260104035750/https://nainital.nic.in/history/
|archive-date = 4 January 2026
|access-date = 4 January 2026
}}</ref>

==Topography and Hydrology==

The lake is bounded by the high and steep Naina peak on the North West side, by the Tiffin Top to the south west side and snow view peaks on the north. Coniferous forest trees cover these hill ranges. The annual [[rainfall]] in the basin area of the lake is reported to be {{convert|1294.5|mm|in|abbr=on}}. Tropical monsoon climate with maximum temperature 24.6 °C and minimum of 0.5 °C are recorded. The water is reported to be alkaline in nature (ph value of 8.4–9.3).<ref name = invent/>

The lake receives flows from the surrounding catchment basin which comprises the hill slopes and [[spring (hydrosphere)|springs]]. The hydrologic studies related to [[water balance]] and [[sedimentation]] was done using [[radioisotopes]] for estimating/measuring the various components of the [[inflow (hydrology)|inflow]] and [[Discharge (hydrology)|outflow]] into the lake. Studies indicated that the subsurface inflow and outflow were significant – ranging from 43 to 63% and 41 to 54%, respectively, of the total inflow and outflow, except in years of exceptionally heavy rainfall. The components of outflows were the surface outflow, the subsurface outflow through the springs on the downstream side and draft through wells for meeting the water supply of Nainital town and [[evaporation]] loss from the lake surface. The mean water retention time for the lake was computed as 1.16 years for the mean annual rainfall.<ref name = execut/>

==Geology==
The [[Krol]] group of rocks, comprising [[slate]]s, [[marls]], [[sandstones]], [[limestones]] and [[dolomites]] with a few small dykes intrusives, is the dominant geological formation of the lake's surroundings. The lake is deduced to have been formed [[tectonic]]ally. Balia Nala, which is the main stream feeding the lake is along a [[fault line]] and the subsequent streams align parallel to major [[joints]] and [[fault (geology)|faults]]. 26 major drains feed the lake including the 3 perennial drains. The lake catchment has highly folded and faulted rocks due to poly phase deformation. [[Landslides]] are a frequent occurrence in the hill slopes surrounding the lake, which are steep. The slopes are highly vulnerable to landslides and mass movement due to various geological and human factors. Several landslides have occurred in the past (pictured) around the lake. Many settlements around the lake are located in landslide areas.<ref name = execut/>

==Flora and fauna==
While the Nainital district where the lake is situated (in the middle [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] ranges up to {{convert|2000|m|ft|abbr=on}}, a [[temperate zone]]), is rich in flora (typical [[temperate climate]] plants) and fauna, the details of the [[flora]] and [[fauna]] specific to the lake and its surroundings recorded are the following.<ref name=flora>[http://nainital.nic.in/flora.htm Introduction, Horticulture, Medicinal flora, Animals and Fishes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407212245/http://nainital.nic.in/flora.htm|date=7 April 2008}}</ref>

===Vegetation===
The trees and bushes grown in the region (lake's basin) with their botanical and common Indian names (in parentheses) are reported to be: a) ''[[Quercus leucotrichophora]]'' [[Oak]] (Banj); b) ''[[Aesculus indica]]'' (Pangar or Horse chestnuts); c) ''[[Juglans regia]]'' (Akhrot or walnut), d) ''[[Populus ciliata]]'' (Hill Pipal, a sacred tree); e) ''[[Fraxinus micrantha]]'' (Ash tree or Angu); f) ''[[Platanus orientalis]]'' (Chinar); g) ''[[Rubus lasiocarpus]]'' (Hisalu); h) ''[[Rosa moschata]]'' (Kunj or Musk rose); i) ''[[Berberis asiatica]]'' (Kilmora);j) ''[[Cupressus torulosa]]'' (Surai or [[Himalayan cypress]]); k) ''[[Rhododendron arboreum]]'' (Buruns); ''[[Cedrus deodara]]'' (Deodar); l) ''Salix acmophylla'' ([[Salix babylonica#Horticultural selections and related hybrids|Weeping Willow]]); and m) ''[[Pinus]]'' (Pine).<ref name = flora/>

The Aquatic Macrophytic vegetation recorded are the a) ''[[Potamogeton pectinatus]]'', 2) ''Potamogeton crispus'', 3) ''Polygonum glabrum'', 4) ''Polygonum amphibium'' and ''[[Polygonum hydropiper]]'' ([[Water pepper]]).<ref name = flora/>

Several species of medicinal flora and horticulture plants have also been reported.

===Aqua fauna===
[[File:Hill trouts in Nainital Lake.jpg|thumb|Hill trout found abundant in Nainital Lake]]
The fishes found in the lake are generally [[carps]]: species of [[mahseer]],{{efn|The [[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]] term ''mahāsir'', ''mahāser'', or ''mahāsaulā'' is used for a number of fishes of the group.}} hill trout, and the [[mirror carp]] which breed several times during one spawning season during May to September. Two species of mahaseer fish are present: ''[[Tor tor]]'', the red-finned mahseer, and ''[[Tor putitora]]'' the yellow-finned mahseer, a food fish which grows to varying sizes from {{convert|20|to|60|cm|in|round=0.5|abbr=on}} are reported. The three species of hill trout found in the lake are ''[[Schizothorax]] sinuatus'', ''S. richardsoni'' and ''S. plagiostornus''. The imported fish bred in the lake is mirror carp, a variety of the common carp ''[[Cyprinus carpio]]''.<ref name = flora/> The mosquitofish ''[[Gambusia affinis]]'' has been introduced in the lake for the [[biocontrol]] of [[mosquito]] [[larva]]e.<ref name = flora/>

===Fauna===
Seven hundred species of birds and have been recorded in the Nainital district.

==Water quality==
A scientific study indicates that the open drains feeding the lake introduce [[toxic]] substances from the catchment of the lake, particularly [[heavy metals]] which get [[adsorb]]ed onto the suspended sediments, which in turn settle down in the bottom of the lake. A study of the risk assessment code has revealed that 4–13% of [[manganese]], 4–8% of [[copper]], 17–24% of [[nickel]], 3–5% of [[chromium]], 13–26% of [[lead]], 14–23% of [[cadmium]] and 2–3% of [[zinc]] exist in exchangeable fraction which puts the lake under the low to medium risk category and infers that it could enter into [[food chain]] and also cause deleterious effects to [[Aquatic ecosystem|aquatic]] life. This study provides the basic database to formulate guidelines for the [[dredging]] operations and/or restoration programmes in the lake.<ref>[http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=18803276 Metal fractionation study on bed sediments of Lake Nainital, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, Uttaranchal, India]</ref>

The water quality studies carried out by the National Institute of Hydrology during 1999–2001 on physico-chemical parameters ([[pH]], [[temperature]] profile, Secchi's transparency, [[dissolved oxygen]], [[Biochemical oxygen demand|BOD]], [[Chemical oxygen demand|COD]] and [[nutrients]]), biological profile (density of population, [[biomass]] and species diversity of phyto, [[zooplankton]] and [[macrobenthos]]) and bacteriological characteristics have led to the conclusion that long-term [[limnological]] changes have occurred in the lake. Excess of nutrients inflow have contributed to the [[eutrophic]] conditions and the internal recycling of nutrients from sediments during water circulation has resulted in luxurious growth of [[phytoplankton]]. The lake is thus anoxic and has reduced [[hypolimnion]], winter circulation, large phytoplankton and relatively lower animal population.<ref name = execut/>

==Threats to the lake==
The problems facing the lake which were also listed in the plea in a [[Public Interest Litigation]] (PIL) before the [[Supreme Court of India]] in 1995 seeking court directive for redress measures could be summarised as below:<ref name = execut/>
* The lake is [[eutrophic]] to high [[nutrient]] accumulation and growth of phytoplankton. [[Algal blooms]] had caused loss of transparency. In spite of installing sewer lines to prevent sewage entering the lake still some effluents from drains, leakage and open defecation add to the [[eutrophication]].
* High [[Siltation]] resulting in reduction of lake depth (the depth of lake is reported to have reduced from its original depth of 27.97 m to only 19.6m.<ref name = shukla>http://www.india-today.com/itoday/20010205/profile.shtml Lady of the lake, Profile: Aradhana Shukla</ref>),
* Clogging of water channels (drains) in the surrounding hills because of [[Structural encroachment|encroachment]], leading to poor drainage.
* [[Landslides]] from the unstable hill slopes draining into the lake
* Inadequate sanitation facilities for the poor section of society, commuters and tourists.

==Lake restoration==
The National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) of [[Roorkee]] who prepared a plan for the restoration of the lake, at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore (about US$10 million), sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, are also now guiding the restoration measures.<ref>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/07/10/stories/2004071001901900.htm Renewed focus on urban, rural water supply]</ref> The Conservation and Management Plan evolved by NIH is not only lake centric but also proposes to tackle the immediate periphery of the lake which contributes an adverse impact on the lake. The "Nainital Jheel Parikshetra Vishesh Kshetra Vikas Pradhikaran", the Lake Development Authority notified under U.P. Special Area Development Act 1986 is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up for implementing the restoration works.<ref name = execut/> The restoration works that have been implemented or are in different stages of implementation are the following:
* Limnological measures such as bottom aeration,<ref>[http://www.lakeandriverrestoration.com/ company that proposed, installed and commissioned aeration work]</ref> [[siphon]]ing of hypolimnetic water, biomanipulation and limited [[sediment]] removal from the deltas of drains which lead to the lake.
* Soil Conservation & Slope Stabilization measures in the form of soil conservation and [[watershed management]] activities in the catchment area of the lake, slope stabilization, [[Drainage]] line treatment, [[landslide]] scars to be treated with [[Coir]] [[geotextiles]] with [[gabion]] cross-barriers and proper maintenance and cleaning of drainage system
* Provide 100% coverage of the town surrounding the lake with sewers and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs)
* Improved [[sanitation]] around the lake and in the catchment with new community toilets to cover all sections of the society, improved design of household [[toilets]]
* Better [[solid waste management]] by disposing of the solid waste through a chute to the downhill outside the catchment, developing [[landfill]] sites is developed and in isolated habitations in the upper reaches of hills, introduce composting measures with support from NGOs.
* Limited [[dredging]] of the lake, particularly near the deltas of drains that bring sediments
* Fish [[Gambusia affinis]] introduced a few years ago to control mosquito larvae, the fish have started feeding on the larger [[zooplankton]] resulting due to scanty [[larva]]e population resulting in adverse impact on the lake water quality. This needs to be controlled by putting minnow traps in the lake and introducing some other fish species
* The outflow from the lake is into the Balia Nala drain controlled by a set of sluices located at the lake bridge. The sluices which are old need renovation and replacement. The Balia Nala also needs slope stabilization measures to check landslides
[[File:Nainital landslip1880 BLcopyright2.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[Landslide]] in 1880]]

* [[Shoreline]] Development and improvement of facilities at all important monuments and temples located in the periphery of the lake and providing avenue paths and roads
* Improved Public Awareness and Public Participation programmes
* The "Nainital Jheel Parikshetra Vishesh Kshetra Vikas Pradhikaran" could function better in a limited role as a promoter and a facilitator for developmental and commercial activities with jurisdiction extended to cover all four lakes in the district, as at present a plethora of organizations are functioning in the notified area such as Nainital Nagar Palika Parishad, Jal Nigam, Irrigation Department, Power Corporation, Forest Department and Fisheries Department who are directly involved with the lake.

The Honourable Supreme Court of India in its judgment of 1995, in response to the Public Interest Litigation, gave the following recommendations which have also been addressed in the restoration measures mentioned above.<ref name = execut/><ref name = shukla/>

<blockquote>
(i)Sewage water has to be prevented at any cost from entering the lake; (ii) So far as the drains which ultimately fall in the lake are concerned, it has to be seen that building materials are not allowed to be heaped on the drains to prevent siltation of the lake;(iii) Care has been taken to see that horse dung does not reach the lake. If for this purpose the horse stand has to be shifted somewhere, the same would be done. The authorities would examine whether trotting of horses around the lake is also required to be prevented;(iv) Multi-storeyed group housing and commercial complexes have to be banned in the town area of Naini Tal. Building of small residential houses on flat areas could, however, be permitted;(v) The offence of illegal felling of trees is required to be made cognizable.(vi) Vehicular traffic on the Mall has to be reduced. Heavy vehicles may not be permitted to ply on Mall;(vii) The fragile nature of Ballia Ravine has to be taken care of. The cracks in the revetment of Ballia Nullah have to be repaired urgently.
</blockquote>

In the "India Today" magazine, Prasanta Rajan, a journalist, in a preamble to the particular interest shown by the Lady [[District Magistrate]] of Nainital in restoration works of the lake has very vividly described the lake in these words: <blockquote>
Look for the lake through the colonial windows of Pant House, a vintage [[England|English]] bungalow on the hilltop, now submerged in wintry night, solitary with a kind of [[Wuthering Heights]] mystery. Down below, the lake is a laminated stillness, protected by seven never-sleeping hills. In the dead darkness of [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]], this magnificence is a distant, partially lit vision, less than real, as the hills of frozen memories make the lake a footnote in water.</blockquote>

==Other attractions==
The [[Nainital Yacht Club]], housed in the Boat House Club, offers yachting facilities at the lake, where a fleet of Half Raters, designed by [[Linton Hope]], sails.<ref>Hogan, Lauren (27 April 2016). [https://nmmc.co.uk/object/boats/thames-half-rater-black-cap/ Thames Half Rater “Black Cap” – BAE0002]. National Maritime Museum Cornwall.</ref><ref>Kamath, Sucharita (16 Oct, 2015). [https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/186191/Governors-Gold-Cup-2015 Governor's Gold Cup 2015 at Nainital Yacht Club]. YachtsandYachting.com.</ref> It is also known for its boating, birding, and scenic views. The Annual Kingfisher Yachting Competition ([[Regatta]]) is held here in the third week of June.<ref name =fest>[http://www.destinationsindia.com/hill-resorts-in-india/nainital-travel.html Nainital Tourism]</ref> The [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] festival which brings out the local cultures and traditions is organized every year during the winter months of October and November, by the Tourism Department.<ref name =fest/>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Naini Lake (After).jpg|Picturesque view of the lake from the top of a hill
Boats on the Lake.jpg|Boats warm the shores of the lake with all their colours
Mosquitofish.jpg|Mosquitofish introduced as a biocontrol measure to Control Mosquito Larvae in lake
Polygonum hydropiper (1832).jpg|Water pepper or [[Polygonum hydropiper]]
Cedrus-deodare-habit.JPG|Deodar tree
Rhododendron arboreum .jpg|[[Rhododendron]]
BerberisAculeata.jpg|[[Berberis]] aristata, Uttarakhand
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Nainital]]
* [[Bhimtal Lake]]
* [[Lakes of Kumaon hills]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.uk.gov.in Official website of Uttarakhand Government]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121002232420/http://nainitalhotels.info/ Official Nainital places directory]

{{Hydrography of Uttarakhand}}

[[Category:Lakes of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Nainital]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Uttarakhand]]

Nainital Lake - Revision history

TeresitaPennell: Creating Initial Pg Initial Version