Ghodaghodi Lake
Ghodaghodi Lake and it's companion Nakhrodi Lake are
situated in the far south-west Terai of Nepal. The entire
system including Nakhrodi covers an area of around 150
hectares. These fresh water lakes are surrounded by
broad-leaved trees of various types. Sal (Shorea robusta)
and Asna (Terminalia tomentosa) are the most dominant
species. Other trees include Amala (Phyllanthus emblica),
Mitho Neem (Murraya koenigii), Bael (Aegle marmelos), Kusum
(Schleichera trijuga ) and on the outer fringe of Nakhrodi
there is Tal Khair (Acacia catechu) and Silk Cotton (Bombax
ceiba). Some Bainsha trees (Salix sp.) growing in the middle
and at the edge of Nakhrodi provide a superb and unique
vegetation quite different from all the other lakes of
Nepal. The undergrowth vegetation is thinly dominated by
Clerodendron spp., Buddleja spp. The aquatic vegetation of
the lake includes varieties of Water lily (Nymphea spp.)
Lotus (Nelumbo sp.), Singada (Trapa quadripsinosa). Pistia
spp. Narkat (Phragmites karka) is found on both the lakes
but more extensively and healthier around Nakhrodi.
A total of 142 species of birds have been recorded here,
four of them are rare residents which breed in the lowlands
of Nepal and have become highly endangered because of loss
of habitat. Now rare species in Nepal like Yellow-wattled
Lapwing Hoplopterus malabaricus and Grey headed Lapwing
Hoplopterus cinereus have been regularly reported from here.
Nakhroadi is the regular breeding site for the rare and
localised Grey-headed Fishing-Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
and possibly the only place in Nepal where the rare Comb
Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos may still breed. Many more
wonderful things are waiting to be discovered!
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