Lake Aalican

Lake Aalican ("Great Calm" in Gundiagh) is a lake in the southern region of Lathadu. It is part of a complex system of rivers and lakes in Lathadu's more hilly south. It is the largest freshwater body in Lathadu and one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems in the world, designated as a Biosphere Reserve by the World Forum in 1999 due to its high biodiversity. Entering into the 21st century, the lake and its surrounding ecosystems are under increasing pressure from deforestation, infrastructure development, and climate change.



Geography
Lake Aalican is located in Lathadu's south, cradled on all sides by a system of hills of varying elevation called Meilleyhugyr ("the sugar bowl"). The Aarnieu Delta and indeed all of Lathadu was once an inlet, with sea levels rising rapidly following the end of the last major glacial period. About 4.5 meters high, cores from this period found near Aalican contain tidal deposits, as well as salt marshes and mangrove swamp deposits, deposited in caves about 7,900-7,300 years ago The sediments of nearby Lake Blassmillish ("sweet water") also show signs of marine influence. The current river morphology of the Aarnieu Delta was developed over the past 6000 years, while the remaining waters in the south-southwest corner of the lower Aarnieu plain formed Lake Aalican.

The basin covers an area of 86,000 square kilometers. The 120-kilometer-long Sostynagh River connects Lake Aalican with the Aarnieu River. The size and water volume of the lake varies greatly throughout the year, with a minimum area of ​​about 2,500–3,000 km2 and a volume of about 1 km3 in the dry season, and the water body expands in the rainy season, increasing the depth to 9-14 meters. The maximum area is 16,000 square kilometers, and the volume is about 80 cubic kilometers. About 34% of the water in Lake Aalican comes from various rivers and streams that enter the lake, about 53.5% from the Aarnieu River, and 12.5% from precipitation. May to October is the rainy season in the lower Aarnieu plain, and November to March is the dry season. The annual rainfall is between 1,000 and 3,000 mm, and it can reach 4,000 mm in some places. Almost all the precipitation is in the rainy season. At the end of the dry season, Lake Aalican is little more than one meter deep. As the monsoon rains begin, the water level of the river begins to rise. As the water level continues to rise, the flow of the Sostynagh River reverses. The water level of Lake Aalican increases by about 10 meters, the flow of the Aarnieu gradually decreases at the end of the rainy season, and the flow of Lake Aalican then reverses and begins to replenish the flow of the Aarnieu.

The extreme hydrodynamic complexity of Lake Aalican, both in time and space, makes it impossible to measure specific flow. Water level rather than velocity and volume determines the movement of water as it shapes the landscape. 72% of the modern sediments deposited in Lake Aalican come from the Aarnieu River, while only 28% come from the catchments upstream of the lake. Sediment-bound phosphorus acts as the basis of the food chain through phytoplankton, and internal nutrient cycling plays a crucial role in the productivity of the floodplain and, therefore, the long-term sustainability of the entire lake ecosystem.



Ecology
The land cover of the Aalican Basin is 55% forest and 45% agricultural land. The lake is surrounded by freshwater mangroves and marshy wetlands known as xxxxx, or "water forests," accounting for 3% of the basin area. The floodplain is surrounded by hills and covered with deciduous forest. The forest is dominated by willow, birch, cypress, and in some places oak. Bamboo is commonly found growing in the region as well. As the distance from the lake becomes farther and farther away, the forest gradually turns into a thicket, and finally into a meadow. In areas with higher quality soils or higher altitudes, mixed forests and semi-evergreen forests occur. This diversity of vegetation types underlies the species diversity of the Lake Aalican ecosystem, with interlocking forests, grasslands and swamps providing refuge for local wildlife.

The lake is home to at least 149 species of fish, 11 of which are globally endangered, and the lake area is also home to 6 near-threatened species, including spotted-billed pelicans, great bald storks, black-bellied pelicans, and gray-headed fishing eagles and Sedic reed warbler, in addition to supporting reptile populations including the East Alutran alligator and numerous freshwater snakes. Although much of the region has been turned into farmland, 200 species of higher plants are still recorded. The Aarnieu catfish, which lives in Lake aalican, is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. A fisherman caught an Aarnieu catfish weighing nearly 648 pounds in May 2004. Although they are found more commonly in the wider Aarnieu Delta, those catfish found in Lake Aalican are on average considerably larger.

As a natural flood reservoir for the entire Aarneiu River system, Lake Aalican regulates floods in the lower reaches of the country during the rainy season, and is also an important supplement to the dry season flow of the Aarnieu Delta. In 1999, the World Forum designated Lake Aalican as a biosphere reserve, but scientists have been concerned that high dams built in southern Ordrey and Lathadu will affect the strength and flow of counter currents into the lake, reducing the number of fish in the lake. habitat for nesting, breeding, spawning, and foraging in the floodplain, which will adversely affect fish productivity and overall biodiversity. Forest loss hotspots are located in low floodplain areas where protected areas are located. Significant farmland expansion is mainly in the intersection between the lower and upper floodplains. Population growth, fuelwood gathering, and logging are the main causes of forest loss. Intensification of agricultural activities and upstream hydropower development reduces buffers to natural habitats and increases the risk of forest loss. By the 2030s, hydropower development may lead to large-scale changes in habitat, with the area of coastal forests likely to decrease by 32%, while the area of rain-fed habitats may increase by 10–13%.



Fishery
Lake Aalican has traditionally been a vital fishing and agricultural production area for Lthadu, having maintained many pre-modern clans and settlements. While many fish left lakes and ponds to spawn in flooded forests at the onset of floods, the inflow of Aarnieu floods brought large numbers of fry, which found shelter and food in flooded forests and floodplains. Approximately 500,000 people live in the Lake Aalican area, which accounts for about 60% of Lathadu's annual freshwater catch of over 400,000 tons, account for 60% of the country's population's protein intake. Most fish are eaten fresh, although the smoking of fish to preserve them is a traditional practice in the region as well. Following Lathadu's 1871 revolution, the most productive lake areas have been placed under the supervision of the Fisherman's Syndicate, which operated through a government-lease system of fishing grounds.

At the end of the rice season, people restore flat-bottomed boats that have been in use for hundreds of years or build new canoes when they can't be repaired, in preparation for the boating competition of the Water Festival (also called the Aalican Festival). After two days of racing all the boats come together to celebrate the Blaapeitshag, the water serpent spirit believed to inhabit the river. Tradition holds that it spits out the lake into the sea at the end of the rainy season, while bringing fish into the Aarnieu through the Sostynagh River. Although the area's population is traditionally Gundiagh, it saw a rapid influx of Gozyar refugees beginning in the mid 20th century following the Brotherly Wars in the Serpentines. While many continued northward to more settled areas of Lathadu or to Ordrey, and many more have since returned home following the end of the fighting, a considerably sized Gozyar community remains in the area. These expats have had noticeable effects on the area's culture, in terms of food, music, festivals, and more.