Inland Fisheries

6.1.6.1 Classification based on morphology

i. Ox-bow lakes : These are cut off portion of river meanders. The basins are relatively narrow, long, deep and have either bend or straight shapes. They derive the name from their shape, which is usually horse-shoe shaped, crescent shaped or serpentine. They receive water from the parent river through the old channel or neighbouring catchment areas.

ii. Lake like wet : These are wide and shallow with irregular contours. They may be connected to the river through channels or receive water from it during floods. During the monsoon season, the entire neighbouring areas gets flooded turning the beels into vast sheet of water whereas during non-monsoon season the water spread area shrinks to the basin proper.

iii. True tectonic depressions : These are created by tectonic activities like earthquakes and usually resembles natural lakes with regular contours. Normally they are not connected to river through connecting channels but may receive water from latter during floods. Such tectonic wetlands are common in the northeastern region.

iv. Meteorite lake : These are created by the impact of full of a meteorite on earth. Such beels have regular, nearly oval shape and abnormally high banks on all sides, which, according to geologists, can be created when the left over portion of a large meteorite hits the earth. The morphometric features of the beels are similar to those of volcanic lakes, except for the fact that they are located in the plain and are very shallow.