Mookaneri Lake

Mookaneri lake (Kanankuruchi Aeri) is a lake spread over 58 acres[3] in Kannankurichi, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. It is located at the foot of the Shevaroy Hills, a major water body of the Salem city, source of Water for the Mookaneri Lake, has been from rainfall received in the Yercaud hill station. The rain water from the hills will reach the Puthu Yeri. The surplus water of Puthu Yeri reached Mookaneri Lake through the Kothukaran Odai.[4][5]

Mooken Lake
Kannankurichi Lake
A Beautiful Lake view
Mooken Lake
Kannankurichi Lake
LocationKannankurichi, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates11.6867°N 80.24238°E / 11.6867; 80.24238
TypeLake
Basin countriesIndia
Surface area58 acres (23 ha)[1]
Islands47[2]
SettlementsSalem

The lake has 47 (man-made) islands. Each island is about 10 feet high from the lake bed and sprawls on an area of a few thousand square feet.[1] The lake islands are home to nearly 12000 trees.[6] The island is created by removing the clay from the bottom of the lake using excavators and building a sort of a bund. Initially it is filled with millet saplings to arrest soil erosion. After a while, saplings of Neem, Banyan, jamun, peepal, and vetiver trees are planted.[7]

Islands of Mookaneri Lake

Restoration

The Mookaneri Lake in Salem was dying from sewage and garbage.[6] Salem Citizen’s Forum, a collective of urban citizens resurrected the lake at an outlay of Rs. 87 lakh under the public initiative.[1] The Forum began work at Mookaneri in 2010 May after many pleas to the district administration failed to evoke a response.[8][9][10]

Fauna
Mookaneri Lake

Mookaneri lake is a popular bird watching destination. The floating islands in the lake area with lush growth of trees helps in providing shelter for the birds, like a birds’ sanctum and their food needs are sufficed by the waterhole or lake. The most commonly sighted birds are egret and kingfishers. Over 169 species of birds have been spotted in the lake. The Pink-feathered Flamingos are magnificent to watch. Apart from this Garganey, Northern pintail, Grey Wagtail, Common sandpiper, Rosy starling, Whiskered tern, Baillon's crake, Yellow bittern, Paddyfield warbler, Citrine wagtail, Streak-throated swallow, Brown-headed gull, Painted stork, Oriental darter and Black-headed gull are the migratory birds sighted in the lake.[11][12][13][14][15] Bird Watchers and naturalists in the city wants to obtain sanctuary status for the lake.[16]

Fishing
A man riding a coracle and beautiful islands of lake

The lake was a source of groundwater recharge for the surrounding areas. the lake has a few varieties of fishes such as rohu, catla kendai and kuruvai. Fishing is carried out by local fishermen and enthusiasts. The coracles of the fishermen is a part of the beautiful lake.[17]

Facilities

The park has a children’s play area and mini auditorium set up in a natural environment, seating arrangements, flower pants on the bunds and walker’s path along the lake. Coracles available to visit islands of lake.[18][19]

Environmental concerns

During Vinayaka Chaturthi every year there is a rampant pollution and damage caused to Mookaneri by the various organisations by immersing the idols.[20][21]

See also

References
  1. Ananth, M.k (1 September 2013). "Pathways to man-made islands in Mookaneri Lake demolished". The Hindu. Salem. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  2. Muthahar Saqaf, Syed (3 November 2017). "A wedding on an island with a message". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  3. "Mookaneri Lake bund found 'encroached upon'". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  4. "Mookaneri Lake filling up". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  5. "Mookaneri Looks Like Ocean". Dinakaran. Salem: Dinakaran. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  6. Pankaja, srinivasan (15 June 2013). "A lake comes to life". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  7. "TN couple to get married on an island". Salem: The News Minute. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  8. "How a Salem citizens' body led the fight to save a lake". The Times of India. Salem: Times of India. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  9. "Back from the brink". Salem: The Hindu. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  10. "How a Salem citizens' body led the fight to save a lake". The Times of India. Salem: Times of India. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  11. "Kannankurichi (Mookaneri) Lake, Salem". ebird. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  12. "Painting the town pink!" (in Tamil). The Hindu. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  13. Saravanan, S.P (17 February 2016). "Rare birds sighted in Salem". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  14. "Rare migratory birds sighted at Kannankurichi Lake". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. 4 November 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  15. Saravanan, S.P (22 January 2018). "Rare migratory birds sighted during Pongal bird count". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  16. Saravanan, S.P (4 November 2016). "Rare migratory birds spotted in Kannankurichi Lake in Salem". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  17. "Once dry, now generates income". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  18. Muthahar Saqaf, Syed (26 May 2016). "Mookaneri Lake, a major tourist attraction". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  19. "Salem's green warrior". Mint. Salem: livemint.com. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  20. "Confusion over immersion of Vinakaya idols at Mookaneri Lake". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  21. "Petition seeks study of pollution caused to lake water". The Hindu. Salem: The Hindu. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
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