Lake is an area of appreciable size filled with water. It is any relatively large body of stagnant water that occupies the inland basin. Although the difference between lakes, ponds or rivers, and other bodies are not well defined, we can say that streams and rivers move faster than Lakes. If defined geologically, lakes are temporary bodies of water. Globally lakes contribute to a very small quantity of all available water i.e. 0.009%.
Lakes can be classified by two ways:
- Natural lakes.
- Artificial lakes.
Uses of Lakes:
- Lakes are used for commercial purposes, large lakes provide a form of transport for heavy and bulky goods like coal, iron, machinery, etc.
- Water is essential for day to day life. Thus, lakes can be used as water storage for domestic usage of towns or industrial cities.
- Lakes are generally used for hydroelectric power generation. Both natural and artificial lakes are used but natural lakes are preferred over manmade lakes to generate hydroelectric power.
- Besides generating electricity lakes also works for agricultural and irrigation purposes.
- It is also used for fishing because lakes are generally connected with rivers and oceans which brings fishes to the lakes. It helps industries engaged in fishing.
- Lakes are used for tourism purposes also. Tourists use lakes for boating and fishing.
Lakes in India is one of the important topics in the General Awareness section. One to two questions can be expected from this topic in the upcoming SSC CGL 2019 and Railway NTPC examinations. It will be helpful for all the upcoming SSC and Railway exams.
State-wise List of Lakes in India
| Name of the State | Name of the Lake |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Kolleru Lake |
| Pulicat Lake | |
| Assam | Chandubi Lake |
| Chapanala Lake | |
| Haflong Lake | |
| Son Beel Lake | |
| Bihar | Kanwar Lake |
| Gujarat | Hamirsar Lake |
| Kankaria Lake | |
| Lakhota Lake | |
| Sursagar Lake | |
| Thol Lake | |
| Vastrapur Lake | |
| Himachal Pradesh | Brighu Lake |
| Dashair and Dhankar Lake | |
| Kareri and Kumarwah lake | |
| Khajjiar Lake | |
| Macchial Lake | |
| Manimahesh Lake | |
| Nako Lake | |
| Pandoh Lake | |
| Prashar Lake | |
| Renuka Lake | |
| Rewalsar Lake | |
| Seruvalsar and Manimahesh Lake | |
| Haryana | Badkhal Lake |
| Beauty lake | |
| Blue Bird Lake | |
| Brahma Sarovar | |
| Current lake | |
| Karna Lake | |
| Sannihit Sarovar | |
| Surajkund | |
| Tilyar Lake | |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Dal Lake |
| Manasbal Lake | |
| Mansar Lake | |
| Pangong Tso | |
| Sheshnag Lake | |
| Tso Moriri | |
| Wular Lake | |
| Karnataka | Agara Lake |
| Bellandur Lake | |
| Byrasandra Lake | |
| Hebbal Lake | |
| Kempambudhi Lake | |
| Lalbagh Lake | |
| Madiwala Lake | |
| Puttenahalli Lake | |
| Sankey Lake | |
| Ulsoor Lake | |
| Dalavai Lake | |
| Devanoor Lake | |
| Karanji lake | |
| Kukkarahalli lake | |
| Lingambudhi Lake | |
| Honnamana Kere | |
| Pampa Sarovar | |
| Kerala | Ashtamudi Lake |
| Kuttanad Lake | |
| Maanaanchira, Kozhikode | |
| Manakody Kayal | |
| Padinjarechira, Thrissur city | |
| Paravur Kayal | |
| Punnamada Lake | |
| Shasthamkotta lake | |
| Vadakkechira, Thrissur city | |
| Vanchikulam, Thrissur | |
| Vellayani Lake | |
| Vembanad Lake | |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhoj Wetland |
| Lower Lake | |
| Moti lake | |
| Sarang pani lake | |
| Shahpura lake | |
| Tawa Reservoir | |
| Upper Lake | |
| Maharashtra | Gorewada Lake |
| Khindsi Lake | |
| Lonar Lake | |
| Mehrun Lake | |
| Pashan Lake | |
| Powai Lake | |
| Rankala Lake | |
| Salim Ali Lake | |
| Shivasagar lake | |
| Talao Pali | |
| Upvan Lake | |
| Venna Lake | |
| Meghalaya | Umiam Lake |
| Manipur | Loktak Lake |
| Mizoram | Palak dïl |
| Tam Dil | |
| Odisha | Anshupa Lake |
| Chilika Lake | |
| Kanjia lake | |
| Punjab | Harike Lake |
| Kanjli Lake | |
| Ropar Lake | |
| Rajasthan | Ana Sagar Lake |
| Balsamand lake | |
| Dhebar Lake | |
| Jaisamand Lake | |
| Jal Mahal, Man Sagar lake | |
| Kaylana Lake | |
| Nakki Lake | |
| Pushkar Lake | |
| Rajsamand Lake | |
| Ramgarh Lake | |
| Talwara Lake | |
| Sambhar Salt Lake | |
| Fateh Sagar Lake | |
| Rangsagar lake | |
| Uday sagar Lake | |
| Sikkim | Gurudongmar Lake |
| Khecheopalri lake | |
| Lake Tsongmo | |
| Lake Cholamu | |
| Telangana | Alwal Cheruvu Lake |
| Durgam Cheruvu (Secret Lake) | |
| Himayat Sagar | |
| Hussain Sagar | |
| Osman Sagar | |
| Safilguda Lake | |
| Saroornagar Lake | |
| Shamirpet Lake | |
| Tamil Nadu | Berijam Lake |
| Chembarambakkam Lake | |
| Kaliveli Lake | |
| Kaveripakkam Lake | |
| Kodaikanal Lake | |
| Ooty Lake | |
| Perumal Eri | |
| Red Hills Lake | |
| Sholavaram Lake | |
| Singanallur Lake | |
| Veeranam Lake | |
| Uttar Pradesh | Amakhera Lake |
| Barua Sagar Tal | |
| Belasagar Lake | |
| Bhadi Tal | |
| Chando Tal Lake | |
| Keetham Lake | |
| Nachan Tal | |
| Ramgarh Tal Lake | |
| Sheikha Jheel | |
| Uttarakhand | Skeleton Lake (Roopkund Lake) |
| Bhimtal Lake | |
| Dodital | |
| Nainital Lake | |
| Naukuchiatal | |
| Sat Tal | |
| West Bengal | Debar Lake |
| East Calcutta Wetlands | |
| Jore Pokhri | |
| Mirik Lake | |
| Rabindra Sarobar | |
| Rasikbil | |
| Santragachhi Lake | |
| Senchal Lake |
Important points regarding Lakes in India:
- Largest freshwater Lake in North -East India– Loktak Lake –Manipur
- Longest Lake In India – Vembanad, Kerala
- Largest Saline Water Lake In India – Chika Lake, Orissa
- Dal Lake is a lake in Srinagar, Jammu, and Kashmir also known as the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel”. Tulip garden is situated on Dal Lake.
- Largest Artificial Lake In Asia – Upper Lake, Madhya Pradesh
- Bhimtal Lake, Uttarakhand is the largest lake in the Kumaon region. It is also known as the “Lake district of India”. One of the prominent qualities of this lake is It is a “C” shaped lake.
- Highest Lake In India – Cholamu Lake, Sikkim
- Salim Ali Lake has been named after the great naturalist and ornithologist, Salim Ali who is also known as birdman of India.
- Largest Fresh Water Lakes In Asia & India – Wular Lake, Kashmir
Ecological Importance of Lakes
Lakes play a very significant role in the maintenance of ecological balance by promoting biodiversity, climate, and fresh water supply. Lakes harbor different aquatic species, from fish and amphibians to birds that migrate. Several lakes, such as Odisha’s Chilika Lake, are designated as Ramsar sites due to their high importance as wetlands. Ecosystems are responsible for recharging groundwater, controlling floods, and supporting local microclimates.
Famous Mythological and Historical Lakes of India
Some of India’s lakes are historically and mythologically significant. Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan is a holy one, and it is believed to have been formed by Lord Brahma. It is one of the very few temples for Brahma in India. Manimahesh Lake in Himachal Pradesh is associated with Lord Shiva and attracts pilgrims during the Manimahesh Yatra. Nainital Lake in Uttarakhand is also associated with Hindu mythology, and it is claimed to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.
Threats to Indian Lakes
Despite their importance, many Indian lakes are at severe risk of becoming extinct due to pollution, encroachment, and global warming. Many water bodies lost their habitats due to urban development, especially in metro cities such as Bengaluru, with the case of Bellandur Lake involving mass pollution. The release of sewage, industrial waste, and plastic wastage has polluted a number of lakes, making them dirty water bodies. In addition, climate change has altered rainfall patterns, resulting in some lakes drying up while flooding others.
Conservation Initiatives for Lakes in India
Several conservation initiatives have been established to counter these issues. The National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) aims at the conservation and restoration of lakes and wetlands. The Manipur Loktak Development Authority has progressed towards cleaning and rejuvenating Loktak Lake, a significant freshwater lake in Northeast India. Similarly, Dal Lake in Kashmir has also been cleaned with houseboat sewage management schemes. Local initiative schemes, such as lake restoration campaigns in urban cities like Hyderabad and Pune, have also helped to revive dry lakes.
Lakes as a Source of Livelihood
Lakes employ thousands of people engaged in fishing, tourism, and agriculture. Kerala’s Vembanad Lake has a thriving backwater tourist industry that provides houseboats and birdwatching. The fishermen along the Wular Lake, Kashmir, earn their livelihood depending on the lake, catching trout and carp. Chilika Lake boasts a prawn cultivation industry that is renowned and provides considerable revenue to the economy of the region.
Lakes and Festivals in India
There are several cultural festivals centered around lakes. Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrated in Maharashtra, is associated with the immersion of Ganesh idols at lakes such as Powai Lake and Rankala Lake. Chhath Puja, mainly celebrated in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, sees devotees gathering by lakes and river fronts to offer prayers to the Sun God. In Rajasthan, the Gangaur Festival is celebrated with processions in lakes such as Pichola Lake in Udaipur.
Conclusion
Lakes are a constituent of India’s natural and cultural heritage. Despite their numerous benefits, their degradation can have dire environmental consequences. It is crucial to implement sustainable conservation practices and involve local people in the preservation of these precious water bodies for future generations.
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