Phewa Lake
Encyclopedia
Phewa Lake, Phewa Tal or Fewa Lake is a lake
of Nepal
located in the Pokhara Valley near Pokhara
and Sarangkot. It is the second largest lake in Nepal and lying at an altitude
of 784 m (2,572 ft) it covers an area of about 4.43 km² (1.7 sq mi) with an average depth of about 8.6 m (28 ft) with maximum water depth is 22.8 m (75 ft) when measured with an echo-sounder on 5 December 2009. Maximum water capacity of the lake is approximately 46000000 cubic metre. Annapurna
looms in the distance from the lake and the lake is famous for the reflection of Mount Machapuchare
on its surface. The holy Varahi
mandir
is situated on an island in the lake.
in the north of the city. Phewa Lake is also used for commercial fishing. The tourist area is along the north shore of the lake (Lake Side and Dam Side). It is mainly made up of little shops, little hotels, restaurants and bar
s. The larger hotels can be found on the southern and south-eastern fringes of the Pokhara city, from where the view of the mountains, mainly Machapuchare
, or Fishtail Mountain, is seen best. To the east of the valley are few smaller and few bigger lakes, the largest being Begnas Tal and Rupakot Tal. Begnas Tal is also known for its fishery projects.
Phewa Lake was slightly enlarged by damming. It is in danger of silting up because of the inflow during the monsoon
. The outflowing water is partially used for hydropower
. The dam collapsed in the late 1970s and it was rebuilt by the Chinese. The power plant is located about 100 m (328.1 ft) below at the bottom of the Phusre Khola gorge.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
located in the Pokhara Valley near Pokhara
Pokhara
Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City is the second largest city of Nepal. Pokhara is city of close to 350,000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28.25°N, 83.99°E, which is the centre of the country from east to west or from north to south, 198 km west of Kathmandu or 90 km west of Mugling, and...
and Sarangkot. It is the second largest lake in Nepal and lying at an altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
of 784 m (2,572 ft) it covers an area of about 4.43 km² (1.7 sq mi) with an average depth of about 8.6 m (28 ft) with maximum water depth is 22.8 m (75 ft) when measured with an echo-sounder on 5 December 2009. Maximum water capacity of the lake is approximately 46000000 cubic metre. Annapurna
Annapurna
Annapurna is a section of the Himalayas in north-central Nepal that includes Annapurna I, thirteen additional peaks over and 16 more over ....
looms in the distance from the lake and the lake is famous for the reflection of Mount Machapuchare
Machapuchare
Machapuchare or Machhapuchhre Lit. "Fish Tail" in English, is a mountain in the Annapurna Himal of north central Nepal...
on its surface. The holy Varahi
Varahi
Varahi is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven or eight mother goddesses in the Hindu religion. With the head of a sow, Varahi is the shakti of Varaha, the boar Avatar of the god Vishnu...
mandir
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
is situated on an island in the lake.
Location
The eastern Pokhara Valley receives irrigation water through a canal running from a reservoir by the Seti RiverSeti River
The Seti River is an important tributary of the Karnali system that drains western Nepal.-Course:The Seti originates from the snow fields and glaciers around the twin peaks of Api and Nampa in the south facing slopes of the main Himalayas. The area is near the trijunction of the borders of Nepal,...
in the north of the city. Phewa Lake is also used for commercial fishing. The tourist area is along the north shore of the lake (Lake Side and Dam Side). It is mainly made up of little shops, little hotels, restaurants and bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
s. The larger hotels can be found on the southern and south-eastern fringes of the Pokhara city, from where the view of the mountains, mainly Machapuchare
Machapuchare
Machapuchare or Machhapuchhre Lit. "Fish Tail" in English, is a mountain in the Annapurna Himal of north central Nepal...
, or Fishtail Mountain, is seen best. To the east of the valley are few smaller and few bigger lakes, the largest being Begnas Tal and Rupakot Tal. Begnas Tal is also known for its fishery projects.
Phewa Lake was slightly enlarged by damming. It is in danger of silting up because of the inflow during the monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
. The outflowing water is partially used for hydropower
Hydropower
Hydropower, hydraulic power, hydrokinetic power or water power is power that is derived from the force or energy of falling water, which may be harnessed for useful purposes. Since ancient times, hydropower has been used for irrigation and the operation of various mechanical devices, such as...
. The dam collapsed in the late 1970s and it was rebuilt by the Chinese. The power plant is located about 100 m (328.1 ft) below at the bottom of the Phusre Khola gorge.