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Nepal is supposed to be the second largest natural water resources country in
the world thus there are numbers of lakes and tanks of glacial and tectonic
origin in Nepal. Mountain lakes like Rara, Phoksundo, Phewa etc., are majestic
in extent and beauty. Rara in Mugu district of western Nepal is the country’s
largest lake. Phewa at Pokhara is another equally famous lake. Phoksundo in
Dolpa Distric is yet another big lake but is less well known than Phewa Lake
due to its difficult approach. Rupatal and Begnastal (Pokhara), Gaduwaltal
(Chitwan), Satyavatilal (Palpa), Khaptadtal (Doti), Barhakunetal (Dang), Surma
Sarobar (Bajhang) and Tilichotal (Manang) are some of NepalÕs other well-known
lakes.
Gosainkunda and other lakes in the Langtang Himal region are of religious
significance.
Rara:
Rara Lake (2980 m) lies in the remote Karnali region in the north-west of Nepal
and is centerpiece of Rara Lake National Park. Rara Lake is Nepal’s largest
lake and is a clear blue mountain lake with juniper, spruce and pine trees
along its shores and snow-capped peaks in the distance.
Phewa:
Phewa Lake is the second largest lake of Nepal and the largest lake of Pokhara
Valley. IT is situated at an altitude of 784m at the western edge of Pokhara
city near Baidam. It covers an area of about 4.43 sq km with an average depth
of about 8.6m maximum water depth is 19m. The maximum water capacity of the
lake is estimated to be 46 million cubic meters. It lies in the valley of
Harpan Khola which feeds the lake. On the southern mouth of the lake, at the
crown of Pardi River, a dam is built which has nearly doubled the water level.
The water of the lake is used for irrigation and electricity generation.
Phoksundo:
Rupatal:
Rupa Lake is separated by the Pachabhaiya ridge from Begnastal hence, these two
lakes are often called the twin lakes. Rupa Lake is situated at an altitude of
about 600m and covers an area of 1.12 sq km running along from north to south.
The average depth of the lake is 3.0m and maximum water depth is 4.79m. Its
water holding capacity is 3.1 million cubic meter.
Begnastal:
Begnas Lake, the second largest lake of Pokhara Valley is situated at an
altitude of 650m. It is located in the Siswa village on the eastern part of
Pokhara and is 13 km away from the Pokhara city. It covers an area of 3 sq. km.
Average water depth of the lake is 9.37 and the maximum water depth is 13.84m.
The capacity of the lake is 29.05 million cubic meter. It is comparatively
deeper in the northern and western part in the comparision to eastern and
southern part. The lake water is drained out by Khudi Khola from the western
part.
Tilichotal:
In the Annapurna range of the Central Nepal Himalaya lies Tilicho Tal (lake),
at 4,919m one of the highest of its size in the world. Stretching about 2.5mi /
4km long and about 0.6mi / 1km wide, it lies at the foot of the 23,400' /
7,134m summit of the same name, north of the Grande Barriere a 10km / 6mi long
wall of rock, ice and snow.
Gosainkund:
Gosainkunda is situated at an altitude of 4,380 meters and cradled amidst
craggy peaks, Gosainkunda Lake is one of the most famous pilgrimages of Nepal.
Thousands of people trek to this glacial lake every August. The trek passes
through varied landscapes ranging from evergreen forest, cascading waterfalls
and turbulent streams to alpine grass and barren mountainsides. Besides the
famous Gosainkunda Lake, the other lakes in the neighborhood are Nagkunda,
Bhairabkunda, Saraswatikunda and Surajkunda.
Gaduwaltal:
Satyavatital:
Khaptadtal:
Barhakunetal:
Surma Sarobar:
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