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Index :
Bird Watchers |
About |
Climate | Topography |
Vegetation & Flora |
Birding Season |
Wild Attractions |
Access
Location: 40 kms west of Dehradun, in the west of
Dehradun valley on Dehradun-Paonta Road
Famous Activity: Bird Watching
Popularly Known As: Dhalipur Lake
A Bird Watchers
Paradise
The Asan Barrage, popularly known as Dhalipur lake, was
created in the year 1967 as a result of the construction
of Asan barrage at the confluence of the river Yamuna &
Asan through Dhalipur power house. Asan Barrage is famous
for bird watching.
Description:
The Asan reservoir attracts 53 species of water birds of
which 19 are winter migrants from Eurasia. During winter
months 90% of the waterbird population comprises the
following 11 migratory species, namely Brahminy Duck,
Pintail, Red Crested Pochard, Gadwall, Common Pochard,
Mallard, Coot, Wigeon, Common Teal, Tufted Duck, and
Shoveller.
Topography
The Asan Reservoir is a small man-made wetland of ca. 4 sq
km area, located 40 km west of Dehradun, in the west of
Dehradun valley on Dehradun-Paonta road. Geographically it
is situated between latitude 30o 24'-30o 28' N and
longitude 77o 40'-77o 44' E, near the confluence of the
rivers Asan and Yamuna. The barrage is 287.5 m long, the
river bed being 389.4 m above sea level, with minimum and
maximum water levels respectively at 402.4 m and 403.3 m
asl.
The Asan reservoir exists throughout the year and is fed
from the river Asan and the discharge channel of Yamuna
through Dhalipur powerhouse. Although the water level is
controlled, it often goes down, and swampy islands in the
middle become visible, attracting a variety of
marsh-loving birds like Egrets, Herons and Lapwings, etc.
Climate:
The reservoir has a typical North Indian monsoon climate,
with distinct summer and winter months.
Temperature: summer, max.38o C, min. 14o C;
winter max. 21o C, min. 2o C;
Average Rainfall 250 cm; South West monsoon during June to
September.
Vegetation & Flora
The aquatic vegetation of the reservoir consists of
Eichhornia crassips, Potamogeton pectinatus, Typha
elephantina, and Ceratophyllum demersum. The surrounding
bushes include Xanthium strumarium, Eclipta prostrata,
Ipomoea sp., Mimosa pudica, Achyranthus aspera, Polygonum
glabrum, P. lanigerum, Aeschynomene sp., Ageratum
conyzoides, phyllanthus sp., Monochoria hastata, Mosla
dianthera, and Lantana camara. On the southern side,
agricultural fields surround the barrage. Further south
there is mixed forest in Siwaliks comprising principally
Shorea robusta, Anogeissus Latifolia, Lannea coromandelica,
Dalbergia sissoo, and Bombax ceiba.
Birding Season:
Arrival & Departure
October November December March-end
Or Early April, Sometimes April- end
Access:
Road: The peripheral road has become a preferred
route from Himachal, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh
resulting in great traffic.
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