List of Statewise Lakes of India

Welcome to DataFlair General Knowledge series.  In this article, we will learn about various Lakes of India and states in which they fall. So let’s start!!

Important Lakes of India

Lakes are water bodies that are surrounded by land. They act as a source of water and are generally inept or outlets of rivers. They are found in hilly, plain, plateau and hilly areas as well. The classification of lakes is as follows :

• Freshwater lakes
• Saltwater lakes
• Natural lakes
• Artificial lakes
• Oxbow lakes (formed by river deposits)
• Crater lakes (formed by volcanic activity)

Pulicat Lake – Situated in Andhra Pradesh, it is a brackish water lagoon in India. The water-body is responsible for attracting North-East Monsoon Rain during October-December. It brings rain to the Tirupati region. The major part of the lagoon comes from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.

The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the Bay of Bengal and this lake. It surrounds Pulicat Lagoon Bird Sanctuary. The Satish Dhawan space centre is located on the barrier island of Sriharikota.

Chilika Lake – It is India’s largest brackish water lagoon, situated in Orissa. It belongs to UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well. This is the largest coastal lagoon in India. It attracts a variety of exotic birds across the world, numbering up to 160 species.

This lake has fishery resources and it is an ecosystem with different flora and fauna as well. It is also the home to the endangered dugongs. It is India’s largest saline water lake.

Dal Lake – Situated in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, this lake is also known as the “Lake of Flowers.” The lake is famous for its houseboats and beautiful scenery in the context of tourism. It is also an important fishery and water harvesting spot in terms of commercial use.

The lake is a part of a natural wetland which also includes the floating gardens. Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh are two Mughal gardens situated at the lake’s periphery.

Sambhar Salt Lake – Situated in Rajasthan, it is India’s largest inland salt lake. The lake receives water from Medtha, Samaod, Mantha, Rupangarh, Khari, and Khandela. The lake is an extensive saline wetland.

This lake is the most important source for the production of salt in the state of Rajasthan. Thousands of pink flamingos and other species of birds travel to this site. It is considered as a Ramsar Site.

Ashtamudi Lake – Situated in the district of Kollam, this is the most visited backwater lake in the state of Kerala. It has a unique wetland ecosystem and is shaped like an octopus (ashta means eight in Malayalam).

In 2014, this lake became the first Marine Stewardship certified fishery in India. This lake is included in the Ramsen Convention of internationally significant wetlands.

Son Beel Lake – Situated in the Karimganj district in Assam, this is the 2nd largest wetland in Asia. It is the largest wetland in India. An interesting fact about this lake is that it becomes a rice cultivation farmland during winter (till March).

During the monsoon the lake overflows and meets the Kushiara river through the Kakra river, thereby flowing to Bangladesh. The specialty of the lake is the Bhujia fish.

Thol Lake – It is an artificial lake situated near the Thol Village in the state of Gujarat. It is surrounded by marshes and deciduous vegetation. It was declared as a bird sanctuary in 1988. This lake is home to 150 species of migrating birds.

The lake was built in 1912 by the Gaekwad regime to provide facilities to farmers. Sarus cranes – tallest of the flying birds are found here in abundance.

Macchial Lake – It is a low altitude lake which is situated in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. The lake is named after an avatar of Lord Vishnu and is considered sacred.

People take holy baths in the lake according to the Hindu calendar. A fair is held during the ‘Vaishakh’ month. Fishing is prohibited in this lake due to religious significance.

Wular Lake – Situated in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, it is one of the biggest lakes in Asia. The river was formed due to the tectonic activity and is fed to the Jhelum river.

It is included in the Ramsar site. However, the lake has drained as a result of the willow plantations on the shore in the 1950s.

Upper Lake (Bhojtal) – Situated on the western side of Bhopal (the capital of Madhya Pradesh). It is the largest artificial lake in India. It is a major source of drinking water in Bhopal.

Bada Talab and Chhota Talab from the Bhoj Wetland which is included in the Ramsar site. It is said to have been built by Parama Raja Bhoj during his Malwa reign.

Vembanad Lake – Situated in Kerala, it is the longest lake in India and the largest lake in Kerala. It is considered as the second largest Ramsar site after Sunderbans in West Bengal.

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in a portion of this lake. This lake spans over a couple of districts in Kerala – namely Alappuzha (where it is known as the Vembanad lake), Kuttanad (where it is known as Punnamada Lake), and Kochi (where it is known as the Kochi Lake).

Cholamu Lake – Also known as the Tso Lhamo Lake, it is the highest lake in India. It is situated in Sikkim. This is about 4 km from the international border of India and China. It is fed by waters from Zemu glacier, Kangste glacier, and is the source for the Teesta river.

Tso Lhamo Lake is the largest glacial, freshwater lake located in the Kanchenjunga range which is also connected to the Tibetan Plateau.

Lonar Lake – Situated in Maharashtra, it is considered as a National Geo-heritage Monument. It is located in Lonar in the Buldhana district in Maharashtra. It was created by an asteroid collision.

The water in the lake is both saline and alkaline – it contains both salt and sodas. Due to evaporation in the summer season, large quantities of sodas are collected.

Loktak Lake – Situated in Moirang in the state of Manipur, this is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. It is famous for its Phumdis which is a heterogeneous mixture of vegetation and organic matter decomposing at different stages. The Phumdis float over the lake.

Keibul Lamjao National Park is located on this Phumdi. It is the only floating national park in the world. This lake serves as a source of hydroelectric power, irrigation, water supply, and other economic benefits. The lake is included in the Ramsar Convention as well.

Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake – It is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas. It is situated at an elevation of more than 13,000 ft from the sea level. Being 134 km, it extends from India to the Tibetan Autonomous Region, China. Despite being saline water, during the winter this lake freezes.

This lake is a disputed territory. The Line of Actual Control passes through this lake. The end of the lake is situated in Tibet. Recently as of 2020, there were injured soldiers from both countries- India and China as a result of a fight near this region.

Kolleru Lake – Situated in Andhra Pradesh, this is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India. Kolleru is located between Krishna and Godavari deltas. The lake is directly fed by water from the seasonal Budameru and Tammileru streams.

It is connected to the Godavari and Krishna irrigation system by over 67 major and minor canals. Birds such as Siberian crane, ibis, and painted storks migrate here during winter. It consists of about 20 million residents and migratory birds.

Nainital Lake – Also known as Naini Lake, it is situated in Nainital in Kumaon district in the state of Uttarakhand. This is a natural freshwater body. It is tectonic in origin and it is kidney or crescent shape. It has an outfall at the southeastern end.

This lake is one of the four Lakes of Kumaon Hills. The other three are – Sattal Lake, Bhimtal Lake, and Naukuchiyatal Lake.

Lake Pichola – Situated in Udaipur city in the state of Rajasthan, this is an artificial freshwater lake. It was built in 1362 AD and is named after Picholi village. Jag Niwas, Arsi Villas, Mohan Mandir, and Jag Mandir are four islands that are located within this lake.

This lake is primarily used for irrigation and drinking purpose. It was built by gypsy “Banjara” tribesman during the reign of Maharana Lakha.

Roopkund – situated in the state of Uttarakhand, it is a high altitude glacial lake. This lies in the heart of Trishul massif. It is located in the Himalayas and is uninhabited. It is surrounded by snow-clad mountains and rock-strewn glaciers.

This is a popular trekking destination. It is above 16,000 ft above the sea level. It is also known as the Mystery or Skeletons Lake. Research says that in 9th-century people were killed by a sudden hailstorm in this region.

With about a depth of 3meters, this lake is known for its skeletons which are found at the edge of the lake. The human skeletons are visible when the snow melts.

Ansupa Lake – Situated on the left bank of Mahanadi river, it is a horseshoe-shaped major freshwater lake in India. It is situated in the Cuttack district in Orissa. It is surrounded by Saranda Hills and enclosed by bamboo and mango trees. This lake has fishing facilities. Birds migrate here as well.

Statewise Lakes of India

Conclusion

Lakes of India are used for irrigation, drinking, navigation, and livelihood purposes. Water bodies hold natural resources as well. Almost every state in India has a lake.