Bathymetric Study of the Neotectonic Naini Lake in Outer Kumaun Himalaya

The Naini lake is a product of rotational movernent on a NW-SE trending Nainital Fault, quite after the establishment of the drainage of a mature stream named Balia Nala. Detailed bathymetric study, permits division of this crescent-shaped lake into two subbasins separated by an approximately 100 m wide transverse underwater ridge, 7m to 20m below the lake surface. The southeastern and northwestern parts, 11 to 25 m and 4 to 27 m deep, respectively, are filled with unconsolidated sediments, 15 m thick on an average. The semiconsolidated sedimentary layers locally exhibit slumping an slopes and deformation in channel beds. These features together with thetransverse Central Ridge, the deep channel cutting through it, the small scarps and terraces or step-like features on the slopes of the narrow V-shaped undemater valley in the southeastern part and its thick filling in parts due to blockade resulting presumably from fault movements, and the existence of deformed and displaced acoustic reflectors are interpreted as indicating quite recent movements along the Nainital Fault. Hitherto unidentified pinnacle-like objects penetrating through or perched atop sediments, are suggestive of either tectonic displacement and squeezing or of the hazard of mass movements which have occurred. A number of small but rapidly growing deltas along shores indicate accelerated pace of sediment input, resulting from quickened erosion in the catchment area.