Stamp of The Day

Postage stamps issued with pictures of wildlife/nature become Collector's items. In our routine brush with postage stamps most of us, unless we are ardent stamp collectors, miss these colourful stamps. IndianWildlifeClub.com brings you a feature wherein we examine each day a special stamp issued by the Department of Posts to commemorate an endangered species or to celebrate a beautiful natural heritage.

On 6^th November 2006, a commemorative stamp on ‘HimalayanLakes’ was issued for a denomination of Rs5/-.

Known for their pristine beauty, the Himalayan lakes ofIndia, surrounded by towering snow capped peaks, have inspired travelers,pilgrims, painters and adventure seekers. From Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, the Himalayan ranges aredotted with a galaxy of lakes of remarkable beauty. Most of these lakes are found at altitudes ofless than 5000 meters and, interestingly, the size of the lake diminishes withaltitude.

One of the most classically beautiful lakes is theChandratal in Lahaul and Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh that connects theareas of Spiti and Lahaul. Surrounded bysnows and acres of scree, this deep blue lake has a circumference of 2.5 km,and is the source of river Chandra. Situated at a breathtaking 4300 meters above sea level, the lake itself wasprobably formed at the end of the last ice age when the glaciers retreated,leaving behind considerable dead ice masses, which on melting formed largelakes.

-Department of Posts and Telegraphs India