View source for Bhoj Wetland

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Designation list
 | designation1 = Ramsar
 | designation1_date = 19 August 2002
 | designation1_number = 1206<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhoj Wetland|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1206|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}}
[[File:Upper Lake, Bhopal.jpg|thumb|right|The Bhojtal of Bhopal]]
The '''Bhoj Wetland''' consists of two [[lake]]s located in the city of [[Bhopal]], the capital of the central [[India]]n [[states and territories of India|state]] of [[Madhya Pradesh]]. The two lakes are the [[Bhojtal]] ([[Bhojtal|Upper Lake]]) & the [[Lower Lake, Bhopal|Lower Lake]], which lie to the west of the city center. The [[Bhojtal]] has an area of 31&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, and drains a catchment or watershed of 361&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. The watershed of the Bhojtal is mostly rural, with some urbanized areas around its eastern end. The lower lake has an area of 1.29&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. Its catchment is 9.6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and is mostly urbanized; the Lower Lake also receives subsurface seepage from the Bhojtal.

The Bhojtal was created by Paramara Raja [[Bhoja|Bhoj]] (1005-1055), ruler of [[Malwa]]. He established Bhopal (also named after him) to secure the eastern frontier of his kingdom. The lake was created by constructing an earthen dam across the Kolans River. The Kolans was formerly a tributary of the [[Halali River]]; with the creation of the Bhojtal and a diversion channel, the upper reach of the Kolans River and the Bhojtal now drain into the Kaliasot River. [[Bhadbhada dam]] was constructed in 1965 at the southeast corner of the Bhojtal; it now controls the outflow to the Kaliasot river.

The Lower Lake was created in 1794 by Nawab Chhote Khan, Minister of Nawab Hayath Mohammad Khan, to beautify the city. It is also contained behind an earthen dam, and drains into the Halali River via the lower reach of the Kolans River, presently known as the Patra Drain. Both the Kaliasot and Halali Rivers are tributaries of the [[Betwa River]].

The lakes are home to a diverse flora and fauna, including many [[waterbird]]s. They have been designated a [[Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance|wetland of international importance]] under the international [[Ramsar Convention]] since August 2002.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050414151849/http://www.ramsar.org/photo_essay_india_bhoj.htm Bhoj Wetland photo essay]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070303162320/http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/freshwater_wetlands/our_work/ramsar_sites/bhoj_wetland_.cfm Bhoj Wetland (WWF India)]
* [https://archive.today/20130103150128/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-01/gurgaon/31526154_1_wetland-of-international-importance-natural-lakes-surface-water-bodies]

{{Hydrography of Madhya Pradesh}}
{{City of Bhopal}}
{{Ramsar sites in India}}

{{coord|23.25|77.34|type:waterbody|display=title}}

[[Category:Lakes of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in India]]
[[Category:Geography of Bhopal]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Bhopal]]