Lonar Lake: The Lake formed By A Meteor

Lonar lake is the Earth’s largest and only hyper-velocity impact crater in basaltic rock of the Deccan Plateau in Buldana, central Maharashtra. The crater was formed 52,000 years ago, when a meteor charged into the earth at an estimated speed of 90,000 kmph, weighing 2 million tonnes. The crater has an oval shape indicating that the meteorite impact came from the east, at an angle of 35 to 40 degrees.

While the diameter of the crater is approx. 1.8 km the lake’s diameter is about 1.2 km. the lake is 150 metres deep. A land locked water body, the Lonar lake supports micro-organisms rarely found elsewhere on earth. The slopes around the lake has a multiplerings of tree. The 1st and outermost ring of date-palms is followed by a ring of Tamarind trees and then another ring of Babul trees. The lake and its ecosystem is home to wide variety of migratory and resident birds; apart from Langurs, Gazelles and Chikaras.

Lonar crater was 1st discovered by British officer, J.E. Alexander in 1823. It is also mentioned in ancient scriptures like Skanda Purana, Padma Puran and Ain-i-Akbari. The lake is named after the demon, Lonasur. According to the Hindu mythological story, a demon named Lonasur was a very cruel demon, after all the god asked lord Vishnu to kill Lonasur. He took an avatar named ‘Daityasudan’, he opened a door where Lonasur was hiding. After a big war Lonasur was killed by Daityasudan. In some spiritual books the water is Lonasur’s blood and the salt in water is his flesh. Near the lake there is a well whosehalf water is salty and half water is sweet. It is also said that the lake is formed by keeping thumb of lord Daityasudan as the blood of Lonasur.

The lake is also ringed by fascinating temples; including one with erotic sculptures reminiscent of Khajuraho. Lohar lake is a notified National Geo- heritage monument; and a popular trekking destination.