Gosaikunda

This article is about lake. For Rural municipality, see Gosaikunda Rural Municipality.
Gosaikunda
Nepali: गोसाइँकुण्ड, Nepali pronunciation: [ɡosãĩ̯kuɳɖʌ]
Aerial view of Gosaikunda Lake in winter
Gosaikunda Lake in winter
Location of Gosaikunda in Nepal.
Location of Gosaikunda in Nepal.
Gosaikunda
LocationRasuwa district
Coordinates28°05′N 85°25′E / 28.083°N 85.417°E / 28.083; 85.417
Typealpine, oligotrophic
Primary inflows35 L/s (1.2 cu ft/s)
Primary outflows60 L/s (2.1 cu ft/s)
Basin countriesNepal
Surface area13.8 ha (34 acres)
Water volume1,472,000 m3 (52,000,000 cu ft)
Surface elevation4,380 m (14,370 ft)
Map
Official nameGosaikunda and Associated Lakes
Designated23 September 2007
Reference no.1693[1]

Gosaikunda, also spelled Gosainkunda, is an alpine freshwater oligotrophic lake in Nepal's Langtang National Park, located at an elevation of 4,380 m (14,370 ft) in the Rasuwa District with a surface area of 13.8 ha (34 acres).[2] Together with associated lakes, the Gosaikunda Lake complex is 1,030 ha (2,500 acres) in size and was designated a Ramsar site on 29 September 2007.[3]

The lake melts to form the Trishuli River; it remains frozen for six months in the winter October to June. There are 108 lakes in the vicinity. The Lauribina La pass at an elevation of 4,610 m (15,120 ft) is on its outskirts.[4][5]

  1. ^ "Gosaikunda and Associated Lakes". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ Bhuju, U. R.; Shakya, P. R.; Basnet, T. B. & Shrestha, S. (2007). "Makalu Barun National Park". Nepal Biodiversity Resource Book. Protected Areas, Ramsar Sites, and World Heritage Sites. Kathmandu: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, in cooperation with United Nations Environment Programme, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. pp. 55–57. ISBN 978-92-9115-033-5.
  3. ^ Bhandari, B. B. (2009). "Wise use of Wetlands in Nepal". Banko Janakari (Special Issue February): 10–17.
  4. ^ "Gosaikunda: More than just the lake". Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Gosaikunda: A fair mix of adventure and spiritualism". Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 30 March 2020.