Loktak Lake
Loktak Lake
Why in News:
An international scientific team led by an Indian researcher recently discovered a massive cosmic galaxy structure and named it "Loktak" after Manipur’s iconic lake to immortalize its identity in the universe.
Loktak Lake:
It is the largest natural freshwater lake in Northeast India, acting as a critical socio-economic lifeline for the state of Manipur.
It is an oval-shaped, shallow floodplain wetland located within the Manipur River Basin.
The Phumdis & Keibul Lamjao:
The defining feature of Loktak is the presence of Phumdi.
These are unique floating islands composed of a heterogeneous mass of soil, vegetation, and organic matter at various stages of decomposition.
The southern section of the lake forms the Keibul Lamjao National Park, the world's only floating wildlife reserve.
The floating phumdis of Keibul Lamjao serve as the last natural refuge for the critically endangered Sangai (brow-antlered deer), the state animal of Manipur.
Loktak Lake was designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990.