Phayao Lake
Encyclopedia
The Phayao lake is an artificial lake
in northern Thailand
. It covers an area of 2.3 km² at an altitude of 380 m. The lake has a mean depth of 1.7 m. The town Phayao
is located on the southeast corner of the lake.
The lake is fed by the Ing River
, which empties to the north, and to a lesser degree by the Tam River, which empties into the south of the lake. At the east the lake empties into the Ing River, which then flows to the Mekong
. To the south and west of the lakes are rice paddies, at the mouth of the Ing River is marsh area.
The main aquatic plants in the lake are Najas graminea and Ceratophyllum demersum
. 22 species of fish are recorded for the lake, most dominant are the artificially introduced Nile Tilapia (Tilapia nilolica) and the Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus). Also 47 bird species were found at the lake in a survey in 1982.
The lake was created in 1939 to improve irrigation in the area. It was added to the list of 61 most important wetland areas on August 1, 2000. There are currently plans to restore the ancient temple Wat Tilok Aram dating back to the end of the 15th century, which was submerged during the construction of the lake.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in northern Thailand
Northern Thailand
Thailand's northern region is geographically characterised by multiple mountain ranges which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar and Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them...
. It covers an area of 2.3 km² at an altitude of 380 m. The lake has a mean depth of 1.7 m. The town Phayao
Phayao
Phayao is a town in northern Thailand, capital of the Phayao Province. It covers the tambon Wiang and Mae Tam of Mueang Phayao district. As of 2005 it has a population of 19,118.The town is located the shore of the Phayao lake....
is located on the southeast corner of the lake.
The lake is fed by the Ing River
Ing River
The Ing River is a tributary of the Mekong River in the northern part of Thailand. It is about 300 km long and its flow varies seasonally due to the tropical forest climate in the region. Flood waters inundate the river basin during the rainy season, spurring migratory fish to enter the Ing...
, which empties to the north, and to a lesser degree by the Tam River, which empties into the south of the lake. At the east the lake empties into the Ing River, which then flows to the Mekong
Mekong
The Mekong is a river that runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia. Its estimated length is , and it drains an area of , discharging of water annually....
. To the south and west of the lakes are rice paddies, at the mouth of the Ing River is marsh area.
The main aquatic plants in the lake are Najas graminea and Ceratophyllum demersum
Ceratophyllum demersum
Ceratophyllum demersum is a species of Ceratophyllum. It is a submerged, free-floating aquatic plant, native to North America but nowadays having a cosmopolitan distribution in temperate and tropical regions...
. 22 species of fish are recorded for the lake, most dominant are the artificially introduced Nile Tilapia (Tilapia nilolica) and the Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus). Also 47 bird species were found at the lake in a survey in 1982.
The lake was created in 1939 to improve irrigation in the area. It was added to the list of 61 most important wetland areas on August 1, 2000. There are currently plans to restore the ancient temple Wat Tilok Aram dating back to the end of the 15th century, which was submerged during the construction of the lake.