महाराणा प्रताप सागर

जल विज्ञान

ब्यास नदी, जिस पर पौंग बांध स्थित है, सिन्धु नदी की पांच प्रमुख नदियों में से एक है। नदी रोहतांग दर्रे के पास ब्यास कुंड से बहती, ऊपरी हिमालय में, और आम तौर पर उत्तर-दक्षिण दिशा में लार्गी तक बहती है, जहा पर यह समकोण में तेजी से बदल जाती है और पोंग बांध के ऊपर पश्चिमी दिशा में बहती है। नदी पौंग बांध के लिए स्रोत से लगभग 116 किलोमीटर (72 मील) की कुल लंबाई में बहती है।
जलाशय नालियां 12,561 वर्ग किलोमीटर (4,850 वर्ग मील) के क्षेत्र को जलग्रहण करती है, जिसमें से स्थायी रूप से बर्फ जलग्रहण 780 वर्ग किलोमीटर है (301 वर्ग मील)।  बर्फ और ग्लेशियर के पिघलने के अलावा, जुलाई और सितंबर के बीच मानसून वर्षा जलाशय में पानी की आपूर्ति का एक प्रमुख स्रोत है। गर्म और आर्द्र जलवायु के साथ, 40 डिग्री (104 °F) सेल्सियस के अधिकतम तापमान में, परियोजना क्षेत्र गर्म मौसम का अनुभाव करता है। सर्दियों में काफी ठंड रहती है और ज्यादातर सूख रहे हैं। बांध बाढ़ के प्रवाह के लिए सोखने के रूप में कार्य करता है, और जलाशय विनियमन मानसून के मौसम के दौरान दिनचर्या बाढ़ से उच्च भूमि क्षेत्रों के आसपास की बाढ़ से बचाता है।
The reservoir stretch is 42 km long (26 mi) with a maximum width of 19 km (11.8 mi), and with a mean depth of 35.7 m (117 ft). While the surface water temperature varies between 22.2–25.1 °C (72.0–77.2 °F), the incoming river water has a temperature range of 6–26 °C (42.8–78.8 °F). (4,850 sq mi)

रामसर साइट

Pong Dam Lake was declared a Ramsar Wetland site on account of its rich waterfowl diversity for conservation and sustainable use of the wetland. This recognition was based on a proposal formulated by the Himachal State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Shimla submitted to the Ramsar Bureau, Switzerland through the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Government of India.
The large reservoir and its strategic location in the extreme north-west of the northern plains has attracted migratory birds from the plains of India and Central Asian countries and Siberia. More than 220 bird species of 54 families have been recorded. The two-day waterfowl census, which ended on 1st Feb 2015, recorded over 130,000  birds in the Pong Dam Wetlands. The interception of the migratory birds on their trans-Himalayan fly path, during each migration season, has enriched the biodiversity values of the reservoir. The Pong reservoir and its catchment have the following rich flora and fauna.

वन वनस्पति

The reservoir peripheral land area has mixed perennial and deciduous pine forests on hills. Eucalyptus trees have also been grown in the area. The forest growth provides enough sustenance to the migratory birds. The tree species of the forest area are acacia, jamun, shisham, mango, mulberry, ficus, kachanar, amla and prunus. A variety of shrubs, grasses and climbers have also been reported.
The reservoir seasonal water-level variation between the maximum water level and the minimum draw-down level does not permit growth of much emergent vegetation, but some amount of submerged vegetation has been noticed.

अंतर्देशीय जल का अध्ययन

A wide variety of commercially viable fish, 27 species of 5 families, such as mahseer, catla, mirror carp, singhara (native) and others are recorded in the Pong Dam reservoir and its tributaries. Before the reservoir was built, catfishes, mirror carps and a few coarse fish were the dominant fish fauna in the Beas River. With the emergence of the reservoir, commercial fishing was encouraged as an important programme not only to provide employment to about 1500 fishermen but also to promote the eco-tourism potential.
A planned operation of fish stocking was launched with first introduction of common carp in 1974 and Indian major carps or silver carp in 1976–77. This resulted in a shift in the catch structure of the reservoir, with carps accounting for 61.8% of the total landings in 1987–88. The present fish stocks in the reservoir, in the sequence of their abundance are: 1) rohu, Aorichthys seenghala, 2) Labeo calbasu (native), 3) Tor putitora (Himalayan mahseer), 4) Cirrhinus mrigala, 5) Wallago attu, 6) Cyprinus carpio, 7) Labeo dero, 8) Catla catla and 9) Channa sp.
The reservoir, unlike other reservoirs in the region, has shown a marked growth in catch of mahseer fish, recording 20% of the total catch during 1999-2000 with the average size of the fish ranging from 1.5–1.7 कि॰ग्राम (3.3–3.7 पौंड). This is attributed to the change in the Himachal Pradesh (HP) Fishing Rules, with an added clause which specifies the minimum catchable size for mahseer as 300–500 मि॰मी॰ (10–20 इंच) or approximately 1.2 कि॰ग्राम (2.6 पौंड). That rule is stated to give to each female mahseer to breed at least once before being caught.
Mahseer angling in the Pong Dam reservoir is said to be the only one of its kind in the country.

जीवजंतु

The periphery above the water surface area of the reservoir has recorded fauna species such as barking deer, sambar, wild boars, leopards and oriental small-clawed otters.

मंदिर एवं पर्यटन

Bathu Temple:- 7 km from Jawali, a tehsil of Kangra District, there stands a cluster of antique, unique, tall temples which remain dipped in water for eight months: but stand exposed to the human eye only during March to June.

पानी के खेल

A regional water-sports centre has been established in the Pong Dam Reservoir, which offers focused activities such as canoeing, rowing, sailing, and water skiing, apart from swimming. Training programmes are organized in water safety and rescue measures with three-tier water-sports courses: the basic course, intermediate course, and advanced course. Modern infrastructure facilities have been created with a 75-bed hostel and a 10-suite rest house. It is said to be the only centre of its type in the country. To know more about the institute please visit the website of the institute: ABVIMAS website link