Description

Dal lake

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

The famous Chinar boat race 2024 was organised in J&K’s Dal Lake by the Army.

Details:

Location	Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
Surroundings	Pir Panjal mountains.
Nickname	"Jewel in the crown of Kashmir" or "Srinagar’s Jewel".
Size	The second-largest lake in Jammu and Kashmir.
Basins	Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, and Nagin (sometimes considered independent).
Floating Gardens	Known as "Raad" in Kashmiri; bloom with lotus flowers in July and August.
Floating Market	Vendors in Shikaras (wooden boats) approach tourists.
Winter Temperature	Sometimes reaches −11 °C (12 °F), causing the lake to freeze.
Islands	3 islands, 2 with Chinar trees.
Char-Chinari	Located on Roph Lank (Silver Island) at Lakut Dal; features Chinar trees at four corners.
Sone Lank	Located on Bod Dal (Big Dal); overlooks the holy shrine of Hazratbal.

READ HERE- https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/dal-lake-34#:~:text=About%20Dal%20Lake&text=It%20is%20variously%20known%20as,surrounds%20it%20on%20three%20sides.

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/dal-lake-44

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/dal-lake

https://www.iasgyan.in/blogs/important-lakes-in-india

Source:

DDNews

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

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Context:

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Assam’s Morigaon district, is witnessing a surge in the arrival of migratory birds as the winter season sets in.

Details:

Feature	Details
Location	Located on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Morigaon district, adjacent to Guwahati in Assam.
Status	Declared a reserve forest in 1971 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1987.
Significance	Home to the highest population density of Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros (around 102 rhinos in 38.8 sq. km).
Landscape	Dominated by alluvial lowlands and marshland. The Brahmaputra River forms the natural boundary to the north, and the Garanga Beel to the south.
Flora	72% consists of wet savannah with species like Arundo donax, Erianthus ravennae, Phragmites karka, Imperata cylindrica, and Saccharum spp. Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) is a major problem for waterfowl.
Fauna	Includes Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, leopard, wild boar, Barking deer, wild buffalo, etc. Home to more than 375 species of resident and migratory birds, including Indian pied Hornbill, Osprey, Hill Myna, Kalij Pheasant.

READ ABOUT ONE HORNED RHINOCEROS

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/one-horned-rhino-26#:~:text=The%20Indian%20rhinoceros%20also%20called,IUCN%20Red%20list%20in%202008.

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/one-horned-rhino

Source:

northeastotday

Madagascar

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Context:

Scientists have found new evidence that desertification, potentially linked to global warming, leads to large amounts of nutrient-rich dust landing in the sea, causing ocean algae to grow rapidly.

Details:

Phytoplankton Bloom:

Rapid multiplication of phytoplankton when conditions (light, nutrients, temperature) are optimal, forming blooms visible via satellite due to chlorophyll.

Significance:

Produce ~50% of Earth's oxygen.
Play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle.
Form the base of marine food webs, benefiting marine life and human fisheries.

Case Study: 2019-2020 Phytoplankton Bloom

Location: South-east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

Period: November 2019 to January 2020, during an unusual season for blooms.

Scale: Covered ~2,000 km².

Causes of the Bloom

Primary Trigger:

Nutrient-rich dust from drought-affected drylands in southern Africa (e.g., Etosha and Makgadikgadi salt pans, Namibian desert, Kalahari pan belt). Dust is deposited via wind and rainfall into nutrient-limited waters.

Analysis Method:

Tracked water parcels (Lagrangian trajectories) to confirm dust origin rather than local nutrient sources.

Impacts on Ocean and Marine Life

Marine Food Web:

Likely improved zooplankton and fish populations due to increased food availability.

Carbon Sequestration:

The region acted as a carbon sink, absorbing significant carbon dioxide via high photosynthesis rates during the bloom.

Implications of Future Blooms

Rising air temperatures, increased dryness, and dust emissions could make such blooms more frequent. Potential benefits like enhanced carbon removal from the atmosphere through ocean fertilization. Further Research is needed to confirm long-term impacts on climate regulation and marine ecosystems.

READ HERE

Madagascar

Madagascar's baobab trees

Source:

DowntoEarth

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Madagascar is surrounded by which of the following bodies of water?

Indian Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Mozambique Channel
Gulf of Aden

Select the correct answer using the code below:

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 and 4 only

(d) 1 and 2 only

Answer: a

Explanation

Madagascar is surrounded by the Indian Ocean on all sides except for its western border, which lies along the Mozambique Channel. In addition to Mozambique, its closet neighbors are the Comoros Islands and the islands of Réunion and Mauritius.