Ooty Lake

Ooty Lake

Ooty Lake
Location Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates 11°24′22″N 76°41′18″E / 11.4061°N 76.6882°E / 11.4061; 76.6882Coordinates: 11°24′22″N 76°41′18″E / 11.4061°N 76.6882°E / 11.4061; 76.6882
Lake type Artificial lake
Basin countries India
Max. length 2.5 km (1.6 mi)
Max. width 140 m (460 ft)[1]
Surface area 3.885 km2 (1.500 sq mi)[1]
Surface elevation 2,220 m (7,280 ft)
Settlements Ooty

Ooty lake is located in Ooty in the Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, India. It covers an area of 65 acres.[2] The Boat house situated by the lake, which offers boating facilities to tourists, is a major tourist attraction in Ooty.

History

Ooty lake is an artificial lake constructed by John Sullivan, in 1824. The water flowing down mountain streams in the Ooty valley was dammed to form the lake. The lake became empty on three occasions when it breached its bund. The lake was originally intended to be used for fishing with ferries being used to travel across the lake. It gradually shrunk from its original size giving place to the current bus stand race course, and the lake park. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation on behalf of the Tourism Department took the possession of the lake in 1973, for providing boating facilities as a tourist attraction.[2]

Features

The lake is surrounded by groves of Eucalyptus trees with a railway line running along one shore.[1] During the summer season in May, boat races and boat pageantry are organised for two days.[3][4]

Boat house

The boat house, which adjoins the lake was opened by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC).[1] Boating is the prime attraction at the lake. The boat house offers boating facilities with Paddle boats, Row boats, and Motor boats. It also features a garden, a mini train and an amusement park.[2] The other notable features include a canteen run by the TTDC and pony rides in front of the boat house.[1]

Setbacks

The lake has had continuous problems with rapidly proliferating weeds (water hyacinth). The officials of the Public Works Department (PWD), have been continually working to clean the lake of the weeds.[5] According to a study conducted by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Ooty lake is the most polluted water body in the state and its water is not fit for potable purposes.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "OOTY LAKE". Indiantravelportal.com. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  2. 1 2 3 "OOTY LAKE". Nilgiris.tn.gov.in. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  3. "Ooty - Lake". Ooty.com. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  4. "Summer festival in Ooty", The Hindu, India, 27 Mar 2010
  5. Radhakrishnan, D (2 Jan 2007), "Weed problem continues to plague Ooty Lake", The Hindu, India
  6. "Ooty lake one of the dirtiest in Tamil Nadu, reveals study". 25 July 2012.
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