Lakes of India — 7
Wular — The Lake That Helps Control a River
In the Kashmir Valley lies Wular Lake, one of India's great freshwater lakes.
But Wular has a job that makes it special.
It acts as a natural flood reservoir for the Jhelum River. When heavy rains or snowmelt send large quantities of water downstream, Wular can absorb and store some of that excess water, helping reduce the severity of floods in the valley.
It is also one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in India and is an important wetland for many species of birds and fish.
The lake has another interesting connection with Kashmir's geography. It was formed in a tectonic depression, created by movements of the Earth's crust, and the Jhelum flows through it.
So Wular is not simply sitting quietly in the valley.
A river enters.
The lake receives it.
The lake stores its excess.
The river continues its journey.
In a sense, Wular is nature's own water-management system—a giant reservoir created without a dam.
And perhaps that is its most beautiful lesson:
Sometimes nature builds the infrastructure long before humans learn that it is needed.
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