In the early morning, fishermen ply the waters of Inle Lake, looking for favorable spots to fish. Until 1962, the Shan ruled this area, becoming one of the wealthiest ethnic groups in Myanmar by exploiting the other ethnic minorities like the Intha tribe who also live there, treating them like slaves.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and the military coup in 2021, Inle Lake was a very popular tourist destination. Tourism now is almost non-extant; along with climate change as well as unsustainable agricultural practices, Inle Lake is facing a serious ecological crisis. Its surface area is decreasing and its ability to support life is deteriorating. The Intha’s traditions of growing food in its floating gardens, and harvesting a once abundant supply of fish, is disappearing. In 2015 it was designated a UN World Network biosphere Reserve, and fortunately there are efforts underway to reverse this imminent threat to the lake and the people who rely on it for their survival.