Gobind Sagar Lake

About Gobind Sagar Lake:

• It is a manmade reservoir located in the Una and Bilaspur districts of Himachal Pradesh.
• It is named in honour of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru.
• Its source is the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej River.
  • One of the world's highest gravity dams, the Bhakra dam is perched at an elevation of 225.5 m above its lowest foundations.
• Gobind Sagar reservoir is 90 k.m. long and encompasses an area of approximately 170 sq. k.m.
• The maximum and mean depths of the reservoir are 163.07 m and 55 m, respectively, making it one of the deepest man-made lakes in the world. 
• It is surrounded by lush green hills and the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas.
• It is also the third-largest in the country concerning the storage of water. 
  • It helps in supplying water for irrigation to the states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, significantly benefiting agriculture in the region.
• Flora and Fauna:
  • In 1962, the lake was recognized as the 'waterfowl refuge.'
  • Even today, the Gobind sagar lake is home to many species of birds and animals like Panther, Wolf, Chausinga, Sambar, Hyena, Sloth bear, Nilgai, Chinkara and wild boar. 
  • It is home to fifty species and sub-species of fishes namely Tor Putitora (Mahasheer), Labeo Dero (Gid), Mystus Seenghala (Singhara) and mirror carp.

Q1: What is a gravity dam?

A gravity dam is a type of dam structure that is primarily designed to resist the force of gravity and hold back water or other materials. It relies on its own weight and mass to counteract the horizontal pressure exerted by the water or other materials it is retaining. Gravity dams are among the oldest and most common types of dams used for various purposes, including water supply, irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power generation.

News: Sukhvinder Sukhu launches water sports at Bilaspur’s Gobind Sagar Lake