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Wetlands in Keoladeo Ghana National Park , Keoladeo Ghana National Park in Manipur, Keoladeo Ghana National Park , Keoladeo Ghana National Park Manipur |
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KEOLADEO GHANA NATIONAL PARK - Rajasthan
Location: 2 km southeast of Bharatpur and 50 km west of Agra, Bharatpur district, Rajasthan
Area: National Park: 2873 ha; inundated land: 1000 ha
Altitude: 174 m
Biogeographical province: 4.8.4
Wetland type: 14, 15,17,18
Description of site: Keoladeo Ghana, or Bharatpur as it is often known, is the most famous wetland in India. It is situated in a shallow, natural depression at the western edge of the Gangetic plain, some 50 km west of the Yamuna river. The well documented avian diversity of Bharatpur, which has in fact been artificially induced, began in the 1850s when the Maharajah of Bharatpur and his state engineers created at least ten extensive, but only seasonally inundated, lagoons divided by a system of earthen dykes (bunds). Sluice gates in the bunds facilitated control of the water level in each compartment, attracting various species of waterfowl, especially ducks, which were periodically shot in vast numbers during the winter season. The water is obtained largely from the Ajan bund. A canal flows through the park, and up to 14 million cubic metres of water are taken annually from the irrigation reservoir located a kilometre outside the park. In years of inadequate rainfall, the inundated area of the park has seldom exceeded 850 ha, and the water in the lagoon has rarely achieved the maximum depth of two metres. During the 1980s particularly, the existence of flooded areas became hxxeasingly dependent upon pumped water, since natural inflow from the monsoon rains was far short of requirements. Ina year of sufficient rains, the lagoons flood during the monsoon to average depths of between one and two metres. After October, the level in each lagoon begins to fall; by February, the lagoons start to dry out, and in June little water remains.
The soils at Keoladeo are predominantly alluvial, overlying kanker pan and some clay formations resulting from the periodic inundation. Situated in one of the most densely populated regions of India, the park is surrounded by 17 villages, and the city of Bharatpur (population 50,000) is only two kilometres to the northwest. A metalled road, which is now closed to traffic, passes directly through the Park. Collateral roads along the bunds branch off this main artery and facilitate observation of the lagoons, which vary in size from a few tens of hectares to well over 100 ha. Keoladeo is well-wooded and supports several groves of mature trees, in contrast to the surrounding areas which are now intensively cultivated. In several of the compartments, there are many artifical islands which have been planted with trees to encourage colonial nesting waterbirds
Climatic conditions: Dry tropical monsoon climate. In recent years, the annual rainfall has fluctuated between 270 mm. and 662 mm. The mean minimum temperature (January) is 6°C, and the mean maximum (May) 48°C
Principal vegetation: The wetland vegetation is quite diverse and includes Nymphaea nouchali, N. stellata, N. cristata, the true lotus Nelumbium sp., Lemna spp., Azolla sp.., Vallisneria sp., Hydrilla sp., Najas sp., Chara spp., Wolffia sp., Paspalum spp., Ipomoea sp., Cyperus spp., and Typha angustata. Various species of Potamogeton, Nymphoides, Scirpus, and Eleocharis have also been recorded. In recent years, following the exclusion of grazing water buffalo from the Park, there has been a phenomenal increase in Paspalum distichum, Cyperus alopecuroides, and Eleocharis plantaginea
The climax vegetation at Keoladeo is tropical, dry, deciduous forest. This has been extensively degraded into scrub and dry grassland, creating a mosaic of woodland types and open grassland surrounding the lagoons. The majority of the woodland is composed of medium-sized trees (less than 20 m) and shrubs. Fruiting trees such as mango (Mangifera indica).
Location: 2 km southeast of Bharatpur and 50 km west of Agra, Bharatpur district, Rajasthan
Area: National Park: 2873 ha; inundated land: 1000 ha
Altitude: 174 m
Biogeographical province: 4.8.4
Wetland type: 14, 15,17,18
Description of site: Keoladeo Ghana, or Bharatpur as it is often known, is the most famous wetland in India. It is situated in a shallow, natural depression at the western edge of the Gangetic plain, some 50 km west of the Yamuna river. The well documented avian diversity of Bharatpur, which has in fact been artificially induced, began in the 1850s when the Maharajah of Bharatpur and his state engineers created at least ten extensive, but only seasonally inundated, lagoons divided by a system of earthen dykes (bunds). Sluice gates in the bunds facilitated control of the water level in each compartment, attracting various species of waterfowl, especially ducks, which were periodically shot in vast numbers during the winter season. The water is obtained largely from the Ajan bund. A canal flows through the park, and up to 14 million cubic metres of water are taken annually from the irrigation reservoir located a kilometre outside the park. In years of inadequate rainfall, the inundated area of the park has seldom exceeded 850 ha, and the water in the lagoon has rarely achieved the maximum depth of two metres. During the 1980s particularly, the existence of flooded areas became hxxeasingly dependent upon pumped water, since natural inflow from the monsoon rains was far short of requirements. Ina year of sufficient rains, the lagoons flood during the monsoon to average depths of between one and two metres. After October, the level in each lagoon begins to fall; by February, the lagoons start to dry out, and in June little water remains.
The soils at Keoladeo are predominantly alluvial, overlying kanker pan and some clay formations resulting from the periodic inundation. Situated in one of the most densely populated regions of India, the park is surrounded by 17 villages, and the city of Bharatpur (population 50,000) is only two kilometres to the northwest. A metalled road, which is now closed to traffic, passes directly through the Park. Collateral roads along the bunds branch off this main artery and facilitate observation of the lagoons, which vary in size from a few tens of hectares to well over 100 ha. Keoladeo is well-wooded and supports several groves of mature trees, in contrast to the surrounding areas which are now intensively cultivated. In several of the compartments, there are many artifical islands which have been planted with trees to encourage colonial nesting waterbirds
Climatic conditions: Dry tropical monsoon climate. In recent years, the annual rainfall has fluctuated between 270 mm. and 662 mm. The mean minimum temperature (January) is 6°C, and the mean maximum (May) 48°C
Principal vegetation: The wetland vegetation is quite diverse and includes Nymphaea nouchali, N. stellata, N. cristata, the true lotus Nelumbium sp., Lemna spp., Azolla sp.., Vallisneria sp., Hydrilla sp., Najas sp., Chara spp., Wolffia sp., Paspalum spp., Ipomoea sp., Cyperus spp., and Typha angustata. Various species of Potamogeton, Nymphoides, Scirpus, and Eleocharis have also been recorded. In recent years, following the exclusion of grazing water buffalo from the Park, there has been a phenomenal increase in Paspalum distichum, Cyperus alopecuroides, and Eleocharis plantaginea
The climax vegetation at Keoladeo is tropical, dry, deciduous forest. This has been extensively degraded into scrub and dry grassland, creating a mosaic of woodland types and open grassland surrounding the lagoons. The majority of the woodland is composed of medium-sized trees (less than 20 m) and shrubs. Fruiting trees such as mango (Mangifera indica).
For Wetlands in Keoladeo Ghana National Park
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