Lakes and lagoons of India
Freshwater lakes, brackish coastal lagoons, inland salt lakes and a crater lake; exams ask the state and the record each holds.
What the paper can ask
- Chilika is described as the largest salt water lake in India; Gurudongmar (Sikkim) is the highest.
- Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar (Rihand dam, Uttar Pradesh) is the largest man-made lake; Bhopal is the 'City of Lakes'.
- Keibul Lamjao in Manipur, on Loktak lake, is the world's only floating national park.
- Chilika and Keoladeo were India's first Ramsar sites (1981); Loktak is on the Montreux Record of threatened sites.
Why exams ask
Largest, longest, highest and saltiest lake, and which state each lies in, are the usual questions.
The full story
India's lakes come in types. Freshwater lakes include Wular in Kashmir, Dal in Srinagar and Loktak in Manipur, famous for its floating islands (phumdis) and the floating Keibul Lamjao National Park. Brackish lagoons are coastal lakes mixed with sea water, such as Chilika (a Ramsar site since 1981 with Irrawaddy dolphins) and Pulicat on the east coast.
Test yourself
1.Chilika, the largest brackish water lagoon in India, is located in which state?
Correct. Chilika is a brackish water lagoon in Puri, Khordha and Ganjam districts of Odisha, designated a Ramsar site on 1 October 1981.
Not quite. Chilika is a brackish water lagoon in Puri, Khordha and Ganjam districts of Odisha, designated a Ramsar site on 1 October 1981. It goes into your error book.
2.Sambhar Lake, India's largest inland salt lake, is in which state?
Correct. Sambhar Lake lies in Jaipur district, Rajasthan, and is a Ramsar wetland.
Not quite. Sambhar Lake lies in Jaipur district, Rajasthan, and is a Ramsar wetland. It goes into your error book.
3.Which is the longest lake in India, about 96.5 km in length, in Kerala?
Correct. Vembanad is Kerala's largest lake and the longest in India. Kuttanad lies on its southern part.
Not quite. Vembanad is Kerala's largest lake and the longest in India. Kuttanad lies on its southern part. It goes into your error book.