Dudipatsar

Dudipatsar/Dudipat lake
Dudipatsar Lake, Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park
Location	Kaghan Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Coordinates	35°1′6.6″N 74°5′22.2″E
Type	Alpine lake/Glacial
Primary inflows	Glacial water
Primary outflows	Purbinar valley
Basin countries	Indus Pakistan
Average depth	approx. 5 m (16 ft)
Max. depth	approx. 5 m (16 ft)
Residence time	May to September
Surface elevation	3,800 metres (12,500 ft)

Dudipatsar Lake or Dudipat Lake is a lake encircled by snow clad peaks in Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park. The lake lies in the extreme north of the Kaghan Valley, in the Mansehra District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in northern Pakistan. The word "dudi" means white, "pat" means mountains and "sar" means lake. This name has been given to the lake because of the white color of snow on surrounding peaks. In summer the water of the lake reflects like a mirror. The word "sar" is used with the name of each lake in the area, translating as 'lake.'

Geography

The lake's water is a beautiful greenish blue hue and very cold, at an elevation of 3,800 metres (12,500 ft). The surrounding mountains, with snow patches in the shady dales, average around 4,800 metres (15,700 ft) in elevation. Their natural habitat is in the Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows ecoregion.

Outlet of Dudipatsar

Lulusar Lake, also in the park, is the primary headwaters of the Kunhar River. Saiful Muluk National Park, with Saif ul Maluk Lake, is adjacent in the 150 kilometres (93 mi) long Kaghan Valley region and together the parks protect 88,000 hectares (220,000 acres).

Wildlife

The lake and its wetlands habitats are of significant ecological importance for resident fauna and migratory waterfowl. Some of the park's fauna includes the snow leopard, black bear, marmot, weasel, lynx, leopard, Himalayan snowcock, and snow partridge.

The lake had an abundance of trout, but illegal fishing with dynamite and nets resulted in a sharp decline in fish population.

Access

The lake and park is accessible for four months of the year from June to late September. In the summer, when the mirror-like water reflects the scenery, visitors from different regions of the country and from abroad travel to enjoy the enchanting views. The trail head for Dudipatsar is located at Besal, which is about an hours drive from the town of Naran. The road is accessible by cars and motorbikes. From Besal onwards visitors trek in vast alpine meadows to reach Dudiptsar Lake. It is advised to not hike it in snowy conditions, as it is an avalanche prone area. The 2005 Kashmir earthquake in North Pakistan made access more difficult. However, since 2006 the Pakistan government has taken steps to restore tourism in the Kaghan Valley, including rebuilding and new tourism facilities and infrastructure.

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See also

• Dudipatsar Trail
• Babusar Pass
• Naran Valley
• List of lakes in Pakistan
• List of national parks of Pakistan

External links

• Virtual tourist-com: Dudipatsar Lake