Bien Ho Lake
Location:
14°03'N, 108°00'E; 8 km north of Plei Ku Town, Plei Ku District, Gia Lai-Kontum Province.
Area:
600 ha.
Altitude:
800 m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.5.1.
Wetland type:
14.
Description of site:
A natural freshwater lake on a high plateau formed by three or four extinct volcanic craters. The lake is surrounded by bare hillsides and rocky mountains.
Climatic conditions:
Tropical monsoonal climate.
Principal vegetation:
One hundred and twenty-two species of phytoplankton and two species of phytobenthos have been recorded in the lake.
Land tenure:
Owned by the People's Committee of Play Ku Town.
Conservation measures taken:
Some measures have been taken to maintain water quality. Bare hillsides around the lake have been replanted to reduce soil erosion and siltation.
Conservation measures proposed:
 
Land use:
Fishing and water supply for irrigation and domestic use.
Possible changes in land use:
 
Disturbances and threats: Siltation is a problem, and there is some oil pollution from motor boats.
Economic and social values: The lake supports a small fishery yielding 3-5 metric tonnes of fish per year; it provides drinking water for local communities and irrigation water for 600 ha of rice and 250 ha of tea plantations at the Bien Ho State Farm.
Fauna: The lake is known to support a rich fish fauna and a variety of waterfowl, but no details are available. Fifty-four species have been recorded in the zooplankton.
Special floral values: No information.
Research and facilities:  
References:  
Criteria for inclusion: 1b.
Source:
Le Dien Duc.