Lake Saif ul Muluk
Naran, Kaghan, Pakistan
(pakistantravelerspk)Saiful Muluk is a mountainous lake located at the northern end of the Kaghan Valley, near the town of Naran in the Saiful Muluk National Park. The lake is a source of the Kunhar river. At an elevation of 3,224 m (10,578 feet) above sea level, the lake is located above the tree line, and is one of the highest lakes in Pakistan.
Lake Saif ul Malook
Kaghan Valley
Coordinates : 34.876957°N 73.694485°E
Lake type : Alpine, glacial lake
Primary inflows : Glacial water
Primary outflows : Kunhar River
Basin countries : Pakistan
Surface area : 2.75 km2 (1.06 sq mi)
Max. depth : 113 ft (34 m)
Surface elevation : 3,224 metres (10,577 ft)
Saiful Muluk is located in the Mansehra district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, about 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) north of Naran, in the northern part of Kaghan Valley. Malika Parbat, the highest peak in the valley is near the lake.The lake is accessible from the nearby town of Naran during the summer season but access during winter is limited.
Physical features
Saiful Muluk was formed by glacial moraines that blocked the water of the stream passing through the valley.The Kaghan Valley was formed in the greater Pleistocene Period dating back almost 300,000 years when the area was covered with ice. Rising temperatures and receding glaciers left a large depression where glaciers once stood. Melting water collected into the lake.
Ecology
The lake has rich eco-diversity and holds many species of blue-green algae. Large brown trout are found in the lake, up to about seven kilograms.About 26 species of vascular plant exist in the area, with Asteraceae the most commonly found species. Other species commonly found in the region are: Ranunculaceae, Compositae, Cruciferae, Gramineae, Apiaceae, Leguminosae, Scrophulariaceae and Polygonaceae.
Folklore
The Lake Saiful Muluk is named after a legendary prince. A fairy tale called Saif-ul-Muluk, written by the Sufi poet Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, talks of the lake.It tells the story of the prince of Persia named Prince Saiful Malook who fell in love with a fairy princess named Princess Badri-ul-Jamala at the lake.