Sattal

Coordinates: 29°20′54″N 79°31′54″E / 29.34833°N 79.53167°E / 29.34833; 79.53167
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sattal
Location of Sattal Lakes within Uttarakhand
Location of Sattal Lakes within Uttarakhand
Sattal
LocationUttarakhand, India
Coordinates29°20′54″N 79°31′54″E / 29.34833°N 79.53167°E / 29.34833; 79.53167
Basin countriesIndia
SettlementsBhimtal
Map

Sattal or Sat Tal (lit. 'Seven lakes') is an interconnected group of seven freshwater lakes situated in the Lower Himalayan Range near Bhimtal, a town of the Nainital district in Uttarakhand, India.[1] During the British Raj, the area had a tea plantation, one of four in the Kumaon area at that time.[2]

The lakes sit at an altitude of 1370 metres below lush orchards in the Mehragaon valley.

Set amongst dense forests of

migratory birds
. It is home to a few camps being operated mostly by local people catering to tourists looking for outdoor vacations.

Geology and physiography

Sattal is situated in the

sedimentary rocks and quartzite
. Physiographically the area can be divided into lower Himalayas and terraces.

Ecology

Sattal is an ecologically fragile

mesotrophic group of lakes and under the impact of heavy environmental degradation. Extensive deforestation, dumping of non-biodegradable waste, uncontrolled urbanization of the catchments and nearby forest is harming the ecology of the area. This results in scanty rainfall, a decrease in the number of plant and animal species and rapid drying up of perennial springs. The lakes also suffer from a reduced oxygen content and high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. Poaching has eliminated many wild animals. Khudariya Tal became Sukha Tal (Dry Lake) due to the leakage of water from its western extremity. An extensive growth of invasive plants such as Lantana, Parthenium and Eichhornia
is also endangering the ecological survival of the lakes.

Flora and fauna

Biological diversity

Sattal is unique for its

fungi, medicinal herbs and shrubs. Each individual lake has its own unique Diatom
index. The Trophic Diatom Index uses the composition of freshwater diatom assemblages to assess water quality and ecological status.

Birds

Himalayan griffon
Verditer Flycatcher at Sattal

The unique avian fauna of Sattal includes

Phylloscopus chloronotus
), and many more.

Fish

Sattal has many different varieties of fish. Mahseers (

Catla catla
are some of the other fish found in the lakes.

Butterflies and moths

Argynnis butterfly
Indian oakleaf or dead leaf at Sattal

Some of the butterflies found at Sattal includes Indian Fritillary (

lepidopterans, with a wingspan measuring up to 24 cm (9.4 in) and a wing surface area of about 160 cm2 (~25 in2). It is only surpassed in wingspan by the white witch (Thysania agrippina) and Attacus caesar, and in wing surface area by the Hercules moth (Coscinocera hercules). As in most Lepidoptera, females are noticeably larger and heavier than males, while males have broader antennae
.

Adventure and excursions

Butterfly museum

There is a butterfly museum built by Frederic Smetacek Sr at Jones Estate, now Peter Smatacek is continuing the research, which has over 2500 butterfly and moth specimens and 1100 species of insects that are found in this region.

Sattal Mission Estate and Methodist Ashram

The Sattal Christian Ashram was established by E. Stanley Jones (1884-1973), the evangelist and missionary. This Christian Ashram is situated on the banks of Sattal lakes, on a former tea estate. St. John's Church is part of this ashram and showcases a mixed colonial architecture. There is also a Sattal Christian Ashram chapel situated nearby. It was established in 1930 to introduce Christianity into the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand.

Subhash Dhara

There is a natural spring of fresh water arising out of dense oak forest west of Sattal that leads to a waterfall beyond the Sukhatal also known as the Bharat tal.

Seven Lakes Of Sattal

  • Panna Tal or Garud Tal
  • Naldamyanti Tal
  • Hanuman Tal
  • Sita Tal
  • Ram Tal
  • Laxman Tal
  • Sukha Tal or Bharat Tal

Image of birds species at Sattal

Nearby Places of Interest

References

  1. ^ Local Excursion from Haldwani Haldwani Official website.
  2. ^ A tea garden at Sath Tal, 1895 photograph British Library

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sattal.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Birds of Sattal.
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