Inle Lake
Location:
20°27'-20°40'N, 96°52'-96°57'E; about 25 km 55W of Taunggyi, in the Balu Chaung Valley of Southern Shan State Forest Division, Shan State.
Area:
15,811 ha.
Altitude:
853m; nearby hills rise to 1,524m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.10.4.
Wetland type:
14 & 19.
Description of site:
Inle Lake lies in the steep-sided, flat-bottomed Balu Valley. It extends for some 23 km in a north-south direction and has a maximum width of about 6.5 km. The lake is shallow, rarely exceeding 5m in depth, and is studded with floating islands of vegetation. The northern part of the lake is fringed with extensive marshes backed by a large area of rice paddies. Large portions of the lake, particularly along the western shore, have been reclaimed by infill for villages or converted into floating vegetable gardens. The lake is silting up rapidly with a consequent decrease in area of open water and a changing shoreline configuration. Seasonal fluctuations in water level are small.
Climatic conditions:
The climate is monsoonal with an average annual rainfall of about 1,370 mm. The wettest period is May to September, although dry season rain on the Shan Plateau is more frequent than elsewhere in Burma. Although frosts are unknown, the climate is cool due to altitude, and persistent mists occur.
Principal vegetation:
Much of the lake is covered by floating aquatic vegetation, including Eichhornia crassipes, and there are extensive fringing reed-beds of Phragmites and Typha, particularly to the north. In places, the vegetation mat is sufficiently stable to support willows (Salix sp). There is a small area of seasonally flooded fig (Ficus sp) to the north of Yaungshwe. The lake dwelling Intha people cut strips off the vegetation mat and transport them to other parts of the lake to use as floating gardens. This activity has lead to a mosaic of invasive species including water lilies. Most of the surrounding marshy plains have been converted to rice paddies.
Land tenure:
No information.
Conservation measures taken:
None.
Conservation measures proposed:
It has been proposed that the lake and its immediate environs be designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary (FAO, 1985a & 1985b; Sayer & Saw Han, 1983).
Land use:
Inle Lake and its surroundings formerly constituted the semi-independent Shan State of Nyaungshwe. The lake itself is currently occupied by the Intha people who migrated from Tenasserim in the 18th century. A number of pagodas are located in and around the lake and a religious festival takes place annually in September and October (Sayer & Saw Han, 1983). The region is densely populated, with some 70,000 Intha in residence. Most of these people live in houses on stilts in the lake and cultivate extensive floating gardens. Other occupations include fishing, weaving and metalwork. Khaungdine, a village on the west shore of the lake, is a vacation camp site for model workers and outstanding students. The towns of Nyaungshwe and Mong Hsawk are located on the shores of the lake.
Disturbances and threats:
The considerable human population subjects the waterfowl to intensive shooting, trapping and egg collection, in addition to competition for food from fishing activities. Consequently, the bird populations are now much depleted. Apparently, migratory ducks and shorebirds are brought to the local markets by the basket-full in autumn (Sayer & Saw Han, 1983). There is considerable disturbance to the lakeside vegetation, and discharge of effluent into the lake may pose a pollution hazard (FAO, 1985a).
Economic and social values:
Inle Lake is famous for its leg-rowers, floating villages and floating markets. Large numbers of domestic and overseas tourists visit the area both to see the Intha and to buy their produce. The peak number of visitors occurs during the pagoda festival.
Fauna:
A very important area for waterfowl; the lake is visited by large numbers of migratory waterbirds during the winter months, and supports a variety of resident species such as Tachybaptus ruficollis, Phalacrocorax niger, many herons and egrets, Dendrocygna javanica, Nettapus coromandelianus, Porzana fusca, Amaurornis phoenicurus, Gallicrex cinerea, Porphyrio porphyrio (common), Hydrophasianus chirurgus (up to 420) and Metopidius indicus. Some 3,000-4,000 ducks were present in late December 1982, and over 13,000 in March 1983 (Thet Tun & Sayer, 1983). The great majority of these were Anas querquedula (10,000 in March) and Dendrocygna javanica (up to 2,500), but also recorded were:
at least 250 Anas poecilorhyncha 250 A. acuta
250 A. clypeaza 300 Aythya nyroca
Large numbers of herons and egrets were present in January 1987 and January 1988, including:
up to 300 Ardeola grayii 1,000 Bubulcus ibis
310 Egreua garzelta 280 E. intermedia
200 E. alba
Other winter visitors have included Anastomus oscitans (six in February 1973), Plegadis falcinellus (five in January 1987), Anas falcata (maximum of six in January 1979), Aythya baeri (maximum of five in January 1982), Rallus aquaticus, Himantopus himantopus (up to 330), idominica, Tringa glareola, Gallinago gallinago (common), G. stenura, and Larus brunnicephalus (up to several hundred), Small numbers of L. ridibundus have also been reported in winter (King, 1983; D.A. Scott). The endangered eastern race of the Sarus Crane Grus antigone sharpii is said to occur in small numbers in the marshes between Inle Lake and Mong Pai Lake, 30 km to the south (Sayer & Saw Han, 1983).
The extensive marshes support a significant population of the rather rare and local Jerdon's Bushchat Saxicola jerdoni. The area is important for wintering birds of prey (Circus (aeruginosus) spilonotus. C. cyaneus, C. melanoleucos and Aquila clanga), hirundines (notably Riparia riparia, Hirundo ruslica), the wagtails (Motacilla citreola, M. flawa), several pipits and warbiers (Anthus spp, Acrocephalus spp and Phylloscopus spp). The Striated Warbler Megalurus palustris is common.
The rich fish fauna includes the so called Inle Carp, which is said to grow up to one metre in length (Thet Tun & Sayer, 1983).
Special floral values:
No information.
Research and facilities:
The lake was surveyed in December 1982 and March 1983 (Sayer & Saw Han, 1983). King (1983) made some ornithological observations in 1972, 1973, 1979 and 1982, and waterfowl counts were carried out in January 1987 (D.A. Scott) and January 1988 (Pyone Pyone Aye, Khin Ma Ma Thwin and Shein Gay Ngai). A youth camp is located on the western shore and a hotel is planned for the Kaudaing hot-spring in the same area. The Hotel and Tourist Corporation provides boat trips and maintains a bungalow at the lake.
References:
FAO (1985a & 1985b); IUCN (in prep); King (1983); Sayer & Saw Han (1983); Smythies (1953); Thet Tun & Sayer (1983); van der Yen (1987).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 2a, 2b, 3b.
Source:
Derek A. Scott and references.