Bhimtal Lake in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand is an example of a:

Bhimtal Lake, in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, is classified as a tectonic lake, formed in a depression created by movements of the Earth's crust along faults in the Lesser Himalayas.

About Bhimtal Lake:

• It lies at an altitude of about 1,370 metres, about 22 km from Nainital.
• It is the largest lake of the Kumaon region, slightly larger than Naini Lake.
• A small island in the middle of the lake has an aquarium and a restaurant, reached by boat.
• The town and lake are named after Bhima of the Mahabharata; the 17th-century Bhimeshwara Mahadev temple stands on its bank.
• An ancient dam with sluice gates at one end controls the flow of water.

How tectonic lakes form:

• Tectonic lakes form when the Earth's crust sinks, cracks or is folded, creating a basin that fills with water.
• Faulting can create long, deep basins; rift valley lakes are a famous type.

Examples of tectonic lakes:

• In the world: Lake Baikal (Russia), the deepest lake in the world; Lake Tanganyika and other lakes of the East African Rift; the Caspian Sea; the Dead Sea.
• In India: the lakes of the Kumaon region are often linked to tectonic activity; Wular Lake in Kashmir is also considered to have a tectonic origin.

Lakes of the Nainital district ("Lake District of India"):

• Naini Lake (Nainital), Bhimtal, Sattal (a group of seven connected lakes), Naukuchiatal (a lake with nine corners) and Khurpatal.
• These lakes are popular tourist destinations and important water sources.

Other types of lakes:

• Glacial lakes: formed by glaciers, such as Gangabal (J&K) and many high Himalayan lakes.
• Crater lakes: formed in volcanic or meteorite craters, such as Lonar (Maharashtra).
• Oxbow lakes: formed from cut-off river meanders.
• Lagoons: coastal lakes such as Chilika.
• Man-made lakes: reservoirs behind dams.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Bhimtal was not formed by a glacier, a crater or a cut-off meander.