Gangabal Lake: Difference between revisions

The '''Gangbal Lake''' also called Gangbal Lake, is a [[lake]] situated at the foothills of [[Mount Haramukh]] (the second highest mountain peak in the vicinity of Kashmir valley)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaffarakashmir.com/trekking_kashmir.html|title=Trekking Kashmir|publisher=gaffarakashmir.com|accessdate=2012-04-19}}</ref> in [[Ganderbal]] district, north of [[Srinagar]] city in the state of [[Jammu and Kashmir]], India. It is an alpine high altitude [[oligotrophic lake]],<ref>{{cite journal|last=Raina|first=HS|author2=KK Vass|title=Some biological features of a freshwater fairy shrimp, Branchinecta schantzi, Mackin, 1952 in the Northwestern Himalayas, India|journal=J. Indian Inst. Sci.|date=May–June 2006|volume=86|pages=287–291|url=http://journal.library.iisc.ernet.in/vol200603/paper9/287.pdf|accessdate=21 February 2012}}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> home to many species of fish,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x2614e/x2614e05.htm|title=Fishes and Fisheries in high altitude lakes, Vishansar, Gadsar, Gangbal, Krishansar|publisher=Fao.org|accessdate=2012-04-19}}</ref> including the [[brown trout]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Petr|first=ed. by T.|title=Fish and fisheries at higher altitudes : Asia|year=1999|publisher=FAO|location=Rome|isbn=92-5-104309-4|page=72|url=https://books.google.com/?id=Z4HESCeJyZcC&pg=PA72&dq=Vishansar+Lake#v=onepage&q=Vishansar%20Lake&f=false}}</ref>

The Gangbal lake is approached from Srinagar 45 kilometers by road via Ganderbal up to [[Naranag]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jammuandkashmirupdate.com/news/newsdetail%20122.html |title=Jammu and Kashmir update |publisher=jammuandkashmirupdate.com |accessdate=2012-04-19 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329232447/http://www.jammuandkashmirupdate.com/news/newsdetail%20122.html |archivedate=2012-03-29 |df= }}</ref> and then a trek of 15 kilometers upslopes leads to the lake, which can be covered by a [[horse]] ride or by foot. The [[gujjar]] shepherds can be seen during the trek with their flocks of [[sheep]] and [[goats]]. Another trek (25 kilometers long) leads to the lake site from [[Sonamarg]] via the [[Vishansar Lake]] crossing three mountain passes Nichnai pass, Gadsar pass and Zajibal pass of an average elevation of 4100 meters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pttindia.com/gt.html |title=Track to Gangabal |publisher=pttindia.com |accessdate=2012-05-22 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329232450/http://www.pttindia.com/gt.html |archivedate=2012-03-29 |df= }}</ref> It can also be accessed through a trek from [[Bandipore]] via Arin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kashmirtreks.in|title=Kashmir Treks|publisher=KashmirTreks.in|accessdate=2013-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kashmirmount.org/track.html |title=Tracks of Kashmir |publisher=kashmirmount.org |accessdate=2012-05-22 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425074501/http://www.kashmirmount.org/track.html |archivedate=2012-04-25 |df= }}</ref> The trek to the lake Gangabal takes place in an alpine environment, (cut crossing) with meadows, (cut from) and huts of [[Gurjar|Gujjars]] with their herds crossing through two passes over 4,000 m to get to the lake Gangabal.

[[File:GangbalPanorama1.jpg|thumb|Gangbal Lake.]]