· The Gem of Shan
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
· Looking Ahead

Global 200 Snapshot

Lake Inle, a shallow mountain lake, contains a large number of fish and snails that can't be found anywhere else.  

The Gem of Shan

Stand on the Shan Plateau, and you'll see mountains everywhere, stretching far and wide. Under your feet lies rocky soil rich with silver, rubies, and sapphires. But the real gem here is Lake Inle. One of Myanmar's few freshwater lakes, Inle contains many unique species of fish.

Special Features

Lake Inle lies 2,952 feet (900 m) above sea level on the Shan Plateau, an extensive region of high mountain ranges crisscrossed by streams and the mighty Salween River. Inle is a shallow mountain lake that contains several islands and is fed by mountain streams.

	The loam soil on the lake bottom is very fertile. People plant tomatoes, beans, or flowers in the lake, creating floating gardens that they keep in place with bamboo poles. So many people have planted floating gardens that Inle looks more like a field separated by channels of water than the wild, open lake it was originally.

Wild Side

Given its relatively small size, Lake Inle supports an impressive variety of creatures that don't live anywhere else in the world, including three groups of related fish (genera), nine endemic fish species, and more than 20 snails. Among the fish found in the lake are the Inle swamp eel and the Inle carp. The Inle carp is a cultural symbol of the local people and is an important food for them; unfortunately, its population has been declining in recent years.

Cause for Concern

Shallow areas of the lake are drained and converted to cropland, which eliminates habitat for freshwater organisms. Run-off of pesticide and fertilizer from these areas pollutes the lake, as does run-off of sewage and erosion due to cattle grazing. The water quality and the lake’s organisms are suffering from these changes.

Looking Ahead

Several local groups are becoming involved in lake rehabilitation as they become aware of the potential for tourism provided by a healthy Lake Inle.