Tag: water body

Karst Topography

Karst is a type of landscape where the dissolving of the bedrock has created sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, springs, and other characteristic features. Karst is associated with soluble rock types such as limestone, marble, and gypsum. In general, a typical karst landscape forms when much of the water falling on the surface interacts with and enters the subsurface through cracks, fractures, and holes that have been dissolved into the bedrock. After traveling underground, sometimes for long distances, this water is then discharged from springs, many of which are cave entrances.

Chemical Reaction:-

Limestone is a type of carbonate rock — that is, a rock made up primarily of a carbonate mineral which, in the case of limestone, is usually calcite or aragonite. These are both forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Over time, limestone may be dissolved by carbonic acid (i.e., carbon dioxide dissolved in water). Carbonic acid is formed when rain picks up CO2 as it falls through the atmosphere. Once it hits the ground, it may pick up more CO2 in the soil, turning into a weak carbonic acid solution. When this solution seeps into limestone bedrock via cracks and fissures, larger openings are created. Over the course of thousands of years, this erosive process creates underground drainage systems and caves.

Mammoth Cave,USA is the longest Cave system in the world.

Xiaozhai Tiankeng,China Largest Sinkhole.

Other examples,Yutacan peninsula,Mexico

Cockpit Country,Jamaica etc.

In India karst topography is present in the Vindhya region (mainly southwestern Bihar), the Himalayas (parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Robert Cave, Sahasradhara, the eastern Himalayas, areas near Dehradun), Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh, the surrounding coast near Vishakhapatnam, and Bastar in Chhattisgarh.

Landforms :-

Manasarovar Lake: The Mythological Mystica

Some places have special values. Sometimes personal, and at other times, cultural and/or traditional. India, being the epicentre of Hinduism since times memorial, has a lot of such places, spread across the country and neighbourhood. One such place is Lake Manasarovar or Manas Sarovar, a freshwater lake, situated near Mount Kailash. A scene of serenity, this lake is a treat to watch in the nights, when the cosmos seemingly descends to the watery depths of the pristine blue loch. 

Facts and Figures

Regarded as the holiest lake in Tibet, Manasarovar is situated in the Ngari Prefecture, which lies to the far western side of Tibet. Also known as the Swan rimbonche and Mapham Yum Tso (English: Invincible Turquoise Lake), this spot is located at an elevation of 4590m (15060 ft) from the sea level, and holds the record of being the highest freshwater lake in the world. 

With a depth of 90m (300ft), this almost circular lake is situated at a distance of almost 32 kilometres from the illustrious Mt. Kailash, the waters of Manasarovar finds its sourcing and sustenance from the Kailash glacier. Situated in the vicinity of origin sources of some important rivers of the Indian subcontinent, like Sutlej, Brahmaputra, Ganga and Indus River, Manasarovar overflows into the nearby Lake Rakshastal via the Ganga Chhu channel (approx 10 km. long). 

Cultural Clout

Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash both hold an important place in various religions, like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon (indigeous religion of Tibet). According to the Hindu beliefs, Manasarovar was first created in the mind of Brahma, one of the trinity of Hinduism, and later, manifested on the face of earth. Hence the name Manasarovar, which can be broken down into Manas, meaning ming and Sarovaram, meaning lake. Such was the beauty of this lake, that Lord Shiva, another deity of the Trinity, made his abode, Mt. Kailash beside this lake. Manasarovar finds mention in the Srimad Bhagavata Purana. It is said that one who takes a dip and consumes the holy water of this lake, is freed from all his/her sins and will go to Mt. Kailash, abode of Lord Shiva after the completion of their human life. 

In Buddhism, Manasarovar is equated with the legendary lake Anavatapta, where Gautam Budhdha is said to have been conceived. It also appears at several other instances in the Budhdhism scriptures, and Lord Budhdha is said to have stayed, meditated and teached near this lake. At present, several monasteries can be seen dotting the circumference of Lake Manasarovar. Its importance in Jainism is due to the connection with the first Tirthankara, Rishabha, who is said to have achieved Nirvana in the Ashtapad Mountain (equated with Mt. Kailash). Similarly, in the Bon religion, this lake is associated with the sacred deity, Zhang Zhung Meri.

Being a part of that many religions, Manasarovar and Mt. Kailash has acquired the reputation of being a holy pilgrimage site. Hence, pilgrimage tours are organized from quite a few parts of the Indian subcontinent. In India, the most famous tour is the annual ‘Kailash Manasarovar Yatra’. The starting of the trek point is Darchen (in Tibet), a short road trip leads to the shores of Manasarovar. From there starts the actual trek or Yatra, which includes the circumambulation of Mt. Kailash. 

With all its grandeur, Manasarovar was, is and will always be an evergreen sight to visit!

Website Reference

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Manasarovar

https://www.tibettravel.org/kailash-tour/kailash-mansarovar-yatra.html

https://zeenews.india.com/spirituality/kailash-mansarovar-3-mysterious-miracles_1863270.html#:~:text=People%20who%20halt%20a%20night,are%20also%20always%20in%20movement.

Image Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto