Inlay Lake located in Nyaungshwe Township of Shan State is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 24 square miles in 63 square miles of the lake area, and one of the highest at an elevation of 2,900 feet. During the dry season, the average water depth is seven feet, with the deepest point being 12 feet. During the rainy season, this can increase by some five feet.
In 2015, the United Nations added Inlay Lake to its World Network Biosphere Reserves. There are a total of 651 sites in 120 countries on this network, but Inlay Lake is the first biosphere reserve to be added to Myanmar.
Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation decided to implement the greening and sustainable development of the lake in the 2022-23 financial year in order to attract local and foreign travellers at all times.
The watershed area for the lake lies to a large extent to the north and west of the lake. The water from the lake flows out to the Balu Creek on its southern end while 29 creeks flow into the lake. The lake is wonderfully decorated with floating plants. The lake is home to more than 35 native species of fish and various freshwater water creatures.
The creeks conveying sand and silt in water erosion and landslides along their courses finally lay into the lake. Hence, the lake gradually faces silting problems whereas water courses linking villages are also silting. At a time when the water level at the lake is down, waterway transport is very difficult among the local people.
In addition, the water hyacinth, a plant not native to the lake, also poses a major problem in water courses. It grows rapidly, filling up the smaller streams and large expanses of the lake, robbing native plants and animals of nutrients and sunlight.
As such, the ministry is carrying out dredging sand and silts from the lake, building embankments to deter silting and removing floating plants as part of conserving the lake. Families of the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) have donated two aquatic weed harvesters worth US$2,460 each for the conservation of the lake environs.
The financial year 2022-23 will be auspicious for Inlay Lake. The ministry will spend the capital expenditure on greening and beautifying Inlay Lake. So, not only local people but foreign travellers can seek the beautiful and pleasant Inlay Lake in a near future.
The financial year 2022-23 will be auspicious for Inlay Lake. The ministry will spend the capital expenditure on greening and beautifying Inlay Lake. So, not only local people but foreign travellers can seek the beautiful and pleasant Inlay Lake in a near future.
