Loktak Lake in Manipur is one of nature’s most mesmerising sights, famous for its floating islands. It captures the untapped and raw beauty of Northeast India and is the only national park in the world that floats. By Manya Saini
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Spread across 240 square kilometres, Loktak Lake is a delicate area that appears as though it is dotted with small islands. What if we told you it isn’t a land at all? The ‘islands’ are actually floating masses of vegetation unique to the ecosystem of the area, made of decomposing organic matter and soil.
These phumdis (phumdis are a series of floating islands, exclusive to the Loktak Lake in Manipur state) are formed when the floating leafage piles together over many years in the lake. During the dry season, the phumdis attach themselves to the bottom of the lake to gather nutrients from the soil. The natural process sustains the phumdis during the monsoons when the water level is at its peak.
Home to a community of 3,000 fishermen, living on huts built on the phumdis, the lake is a source of livelihood for them. The locals depend on it for irrigation, drinking water and hydropower.
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The lake hosts 425 species of animals, 100 species of birds and over 233 species of aquatic plants. Its most famous fauna is the Sangai dancing deer that can be spotted roaming on the phumdis of Loktak Lake — its last natural habitat.
However, the construction of the Ithai Hydropower Dam has disrupted the natural ecosystem of the area creating a condition where the phumdis cannot sink. The water level is high throughout the year causing a nutrient deficiency in the vegetation, thereby compelling it to break apart. Adding to the degradation is the entry of water from several rivers into the lake, as a result, there has been a rise in the amount of polluted silt.
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Conscious travelling is the need of the hour, both for instil change, as well as to support the local community in their effort to conserve this nature’s wonder. Awareness among tourists about the environment can help take favourable steps for the future.
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