Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Geography
Why in News?
Recently, the water level of Lonar Lake in Maharashtra has risen drastically, and the Bombay High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the issue.
- Location – Lonar Lake is located in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district.
- Type – It is formed inside a meteorite impact crater, estimated to be formed from ~12,000 years to 5.7 lakh years ago.
- It is considered the largest basaltic impact crater in the world by the Geological Survey of India.
- Characteristics – Saline and highly alkaline lake with pH ~10.
- Supports specialized extremophile microorganisms, making it uninhabitable for most plant and animal species.
- Stable alkalinity is essential to maintain its fragile ecosystem.
- It features a distinct ecosystem that sometimes turns pink due to microorganisms.
- Ramsar site - It is a Ramsar site and National Geo-heritage Monument.
- Drainage – The lake is fed by multiple streams and underground aquifers, but has no outlet.
- Protected Temples – The lake complex houses ancient temples, including the Kamalja Devi Temple and 15 ASI-protected temples are located along the lower rim of the crater.
- Recent Concern – Water level has increased by ~4 metres since 2022.
- Strong 2025 monsoon caused the Kamalja Devi Temple to be submerged by nearly 2 metres.
- Out of 15 ASI-protected temples, 9 are partially or fully submerged.
- Reasons – According to a geologist, human-induced groundwater recharge is one of the reasons.
- Construction of deep borewells (600–700 ft), dugwells, and percolation dams over the last 10–15 years.
- These structures recharge lower aquifers, which now feed groundwater into the lake.
- Extreme Rainfall Events – Intense rainfall in 2025 with enhanced percolation and subsurface flow into the lake.
- Closed Basin Nature – The lake has no outlet, and water loss occurs only through evaporation.
- Institutional Response – ASI plans to build a gabion wall as a temporary protective measure for the Kamalja temple.
Reference
IE | Lonar Lake
