Flood triggered by heavy rainfall in Kaski district recently has muddied the water of Fewa Lake, one of Pokhara’s major tourist attractions. Local Ramchandra Jalari said he had never in his life seen the pristine lake turn so murky. “The flood water has washed stones, pebbles and branches in the lake,” Jalari said. “The lake’s water level has also increased dramatically because of siltation.”
Fewa Lake is a freshwater lake in Nepal located in the south of the Pokhara Valley that includes Pokhara city; parts of Sarangkot and Kaskikot. The lake is stream-fed but a dam regulates the water reserve, therefore, the lake is classified as semi-natural freshwater lake. It is the second largest lake in Nepal, the largest in Gandaki Zone followed by Begnas Lake. Phewa lake is located at an altitude of 742 m (2,434 ft) and covers an area of about 5.23 km2 (2.0 sq mi). It has an average depth of about 8.6 m (28 ft) and a maximum depth of 24 m (79 ft).[4] Maximum water capacity of the lake is approximately 43,000,000 cubic metres (35,000 acre·ft). The Annapurna range on the north is only about 28 km (linear distance) away from the lake. The lake is also famous for the reflection of mount Machhapuchhre and other mountain peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges on its surface. The Taal Barahi Temple is situated on an island in the lake.
