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Rivers
 Kashmir
is a land of lakes and rivers. The river Jhelum (ancient name, Vitasta-
transformed into Veth, in Kashmiri parlance) meanders through the valley in
artistic Zigzags, which have furnished the motifs to the deft Kashmiri artisans.
Nestled among hills in the north-east of the valley is the Wular (20 km by 8
km), the largest fresh-water lake in India. The Dal lake, well known for the
Mughal gardens flanking it, in the vicinity of Srinagar, is about 6 km long and
about 3 km broad. Other well-known lakes are the Manasbal (the deepest in
Kashmir), the Kaunsar Nag (3,901.44 m), and the Gangabal and other mountain
tarns, at an elevation of over 3,300 m. In the Lidder valley, there are huge
glaciers like Kolahai which is about 8 km long and comes down as low as 3,300
m. The mountains and lakes are complemented by luxuriant orchards dotted
with majestic chinar trees, providing so many breathtaking spectacles.
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