Check out the Most Important Lakes In India with Important Facts and Details:
Most Important Lakes in Assam
- Deepor Beel (Dipor Bil)
- Permanent freshwater lake;
- Ramsar site in 2002;
- Important bird sanctuary
- Dora Beel
- It is a wetland as well as a lake found in the Kamrup district of Assam.
- Water from the Kulsi River fed into this lake.
Most Important Lakes in Andhra Pradesh
- Hasainsagar lake
- One of the largest man-made lakes;
- Built by Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah in 1563;
- a monolithic statue of the Gautama Buddha erected here.
- Kolleru Lake
- Kolleru is a natural lake.
- It is the largest freshwater lake in India.
- It is also the largest shallow freshwater lake in Asia;
- Found between Krishna and Godavari delta.
- It is a Ramsar convention site.
- Pulicat Lake
- Second largest brackish water lagoon in India;
- located at the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
- Kaniairi Lake
Most Important Lakes in Bihar
- Kanwar Taal or Kabar Taal Lake – Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake; declared as a Ramsar site in 2020.
Most Important Lakes in Gujarat
- Hamirsar Lake
- is a man-made lake;
- It has a unique 450-year-old water management system.
- Kankaria Lake
- its root is placed in the Chaulukya period seldom though It was built in 1451 during the reign of Sultan Qutb-ud-Din Ahmad Shah II.
Most Important Lakes in Haryana
- Badkhal Lake
- a natural lake
- Brahma Sarovar
- It is an ancient water pool sacred to Hinduism;
- Dedicated to Lord Shiva
Most Important Lakes in Himachal Pradesh
- Chandra Taal Lake
- settle on the Samudra Tapu plateau;
- Designated as Ramsar sites.
- Maharana Pratap Sagar
- also known as Pong Reservoir;
- created by building the highest earth-fill dam in India on the Beas River in 1975;
- bounded by the rugged Dhauladhar mountain range.
- Renuka lake
- Renuka lake is located in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh.
- It is Himachal Pradesh’s largest natural lake.
- It has been classified as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention since November 2005.
- Threat: continuously shrinking in size
Most Important Lakes in Jammu and Kashmir
- Dal Lake
- Urban lake;
- Second largest in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir;
- It is called the “Lake of Flowers”, “Srinagar’s Jewel” or “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir”;
- it is part of a natural wetland.
- Wular Lake
- designated as a Ramsar site in 1990;
- The largest freshwater lake in India
- one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia;
- formed as a result of tectonic activity;
- fed by the Jhelum River.
- Verinag Lake
- first tourist spot of Kashmir Valley
- It is also known as the Gateway of Kashmir.
- Situated at an elevation of 1,851 mt (6,073 ft)
- Manas Bal Lake
- Lake is encircled by four villages
- one of the largest natural stamping spots of Aquatic birds in Kashmir
- Has the sobriquet of “supreme gem of all Kashmir Lakes”.
- It has no major inlet channels and is therefore supported largely by precipitation (rain and snowfall).
- Stated to be the deepest lake in India.
- Nigeen Lake or Nageen Lake
- is alled as “nageena”, which means “the jewel in the ring”.
- eutrophic lake
- seldom considered as a part of the Dal lake.
- Sheshnag Lake
- alpine high altitude oligotrophic lake
- situated near to Amarnath cave
- It flows out through a stream which joins the Lidder River at Pahalgam.
- Anantnag Lake
Most Important Lakes in Karnataka
- Agara Lake
- It is a natural lake located in Bangalore
- It is filled by the water of Madivala lake
- Ulsoor Lake or Halasuru Lake
- It is dated to Kempegowdas’ time
- Built by the then Commissioner of Bangalore, Sir Lewin Bentham Bowring
Most Important Lakes in Kerala
- Kuttanad Lake (Kodaikanal Lake)
- It is a 154-year-old artificial (man-made) lake,
- It is a star-shaped lake,
- It is encircled by lush green hills of the north-western Palani Hills range,
- It has moderate to dense growth of macrophytes of every type
- Kurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is located here.
- Sasthamkotta Lake
- Vembanad Lake
- It’s India’s longest lake
- It is the 2nd largest Ramsar site in India only after Sunderbans in West Bengal.
- The Nehru Trophy Boat Race takes place in a section of the lake.
- It is a significant source of freshwater for the state.
- The lake is bordered by the four districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam.
- It is located on sea level and is isolated from the Laccadive Sea by a small barrier island.
- The lake is part of the wetland area of Vembanad-Kol,
- Vembanad Lake is situated in the heart of Kerala Backwaters tourism.
- The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is situated on the eastern shore of the lake.
- Vembanad wetland designated as a wetland of international significance under the Ramsar Convention.
- Ashtamudi Lake
- Wide palm-shaped (also referred to as octopus-shaped) water body.
- The lake has also named the ‘entrance to Kerala’s backwater’.
- Included in the list of wetlands of international importance as described in the Ramsar Convention.
- Ashtamudi lake is situated on the Kallada River.
- It is a lagoon.
- Pariyar Lake (Thekkady Lake)
- It is located inside the Periyar National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary.
- It is an artificial lake.
- It is the concluding drainage reservoir for the Periyar River.
- It is not a lagoon.
Most Important Lakes in Madhya Pradesh
- Bhojtal Lake
- Bhojtal is said to be designed by Raja Bhoj Paramara in the 11th century.
- Located in the capital of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal, India.
- Also referred to as Upper Lake It’s a significant source of drinking water for locals.
- Bada Talaab (big lake), along with the neighboring Chhota Talaab (small lake), is the Bhoj Wetland, and it is now a Ramsar site.
- Bhojtal is located in the western central part of Bhopal City and is encircled by Van Vihar National Park in the south.
- Risk lake has been shrinking and polluted in recent days due to anthropogenic activities.
Most Important Lakes in Maharashtra
- Shivsagar
- It is a reservoir, located in the state of Maharashtra, India.
- It was created after the Koyna River was overrun by the Koyna Dam.
- Lonar Lake or Lonar crater
- Sited in Buldhana district, Maharashtra, India.
- Notified National Geo-Heritage Monument, Salt, Soda Lake
- Created by the effects of a meteorite crash during the Pleistocene period.
- It is among the four confirmed, hyper-velocity, basaltic rock impact craters all around Earth.
- Lonar crater is positioned within the Deccan Plateau.
- The water in the lake is saline and alkaline.
- As per IIT Bombay 2019 study, minerals in lake debris were found to be very alike to minerals found in moon rocks brought back during the Apollo program.
- The lake was designated a Ramsar protected site in November 2020.
Most Important Lakes in Manipur
- Loktak lake
- It is the biggest freshwater lake in North East India.
- It’s popular for the phumdis floating above it.
- The Keibul Lamjao National Park, situated on this phumdi, is the only floating national park in the world.
- Loktak Day is celebrated every year on the 15th of October on the outskirts of Loktak Lake.
- Lake was originally classified as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Most Important Lakes in Meghalaya
- Umiam Lake
- Also known as Dam sait.
- It’s a reservoir in the hills of Meghalaya, India.
- Created by the Assam State Electricity Board in the early 1960s by the damming of the Umiam River.
Most Important Lakes in Mizoram
- Tam Dil
- The word Tam DIl is a combination of antam (implies a mustard plant), and Dil (implies lake).
- The roots and etymology of the Tam Dil are veiled in folklore.
Most Important Lakes in Nagaland
- Shilloi Lake
- Nagaland’s Largest Natural Lake located in the center of the Patkai range.
- It is spreads over an area of 0.25-0.30 sq km
- It lies in a valley covered by pine trees and diverse landscapes.
- Lütsams is the real name of the lake, meaning ‘the location where the water is stored.’
- Tsumang Lake
- Tsumang Lake is a lake located in Wokha, Nagakand.
Most Important Lakes in Odisha
- Chilika Lake
- Chilika Lake is the largest brackish lagoon in the world just after New Caledonian Barrier Reef.
- It has been identified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- It is the largest nesting region for migratory birds in the Indian subcontinent.
- Chilika Lake was recognized as the very first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on 1st October 1981.
- It has a catchment area of 3,560 km2 (1,370 sq mi).
- The lake has an estuarine characteristic in an ephemeral setting.
- Chilika, in 2002, was excluded from the Montreux Record, taking into account the improving conditions of the lake, and became the first Ramsar site in Asia to be dropped from the Montreux Record.
- The first marine sanctuary in India has been built at Chilka Lake.
Most Important Lakes in Punjab
- Harike Lake
- One of the largest artificial (man-made) wetlands in northern India.
- Harike is an important sanctuary for birds migrating along foreign borders.
- In 1990, Harike lake has been classified as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
- Around 70% of the lake occupies dense floating vegetation.
- Kanjli Lake
Most Important Lakes in Rajasthan
- Sambhar Lake
- Sambhar Salt Lake is India’s biggest inland salt lake and is the center of most of Rajasthan’s salt production.
- It encircles the historical Sambhar Lake Town.
- Sambhar Lake is closest to Rajasthan Jaipur district.
- The lake absorbs water from five rivers: Mantha, Medtha, Khari, Samaod, Rupangarh, and Khandel.
- It is a vast saline wetland.
- Sambhar lake has been classified as a Ramsar site.
- The concentration of salt (NaCl) in this lake water varies from season to season.
- Marriage of Jodha Bai and Akbar at Sambhar Lake Town in 1562.
- Lake Sambhar is ecologically important.
- It is located in the east-central Rajasthan state, west of Jaipur.
- Sambhar is famous for ‘feni’ (a sweet food).
- Lake Sambhar is nearest to Jaipur.
- Rajsamand Lake or Rajsamudra Lake
- It was built by Rana Raj Singh in 1660
- During the Second World War, it was utilized as a seaplane base.
- It’s situated between Rajnagar and Kankroli.
- River Gomti is the major water provider to Rajsamand Lake.
- Pichhola Lake
- Located in the town of Udaipur (city of lakes) in the state of Rajasthan, India.
- It is a manmade (artificial) freshwater lake, constructed in 1362 AD by Banjaras.
- There are four islands on the lake: Jag Niwas, Jag Mandir, Mohan Mandir, and Arsi Vilas.
- Jaisamand Lake
- Jaisamand Lake is also known as Dhebar Lake.
- It was constructed in 1685 by Maharana Jai Singh.
- Located in the town of Udaipur (city of lakes) in the state of Rajasthan, India.
- It is the second-largest artificial lake in India, after Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar.
- There are three islands on Dhebar Lake, and the Bhil Minas tribe inhabits them all.
- Fateh Sagar Lake
- It is located in the town of Udaipur (city of lakes) in the state of Rajasthan, India.
- It is a manmade (artificial) freshwater lake built in the 1680s.
- It is named after Maharana Fateh Singh of Udaipur and Mewar.
- A festival called the Hariyali Amavasya Mela (Green New Moon Fair) is held each year in the lake area, in the month of Shravan (August/September).
- Didwana Lake
- It is located in the district of Nagaur in the state of Rajasthan, India.
- Lankaranarsar Lake
- It is located in the district of Bikaner in the state of Rajasthan, India.
- It is a playa lake (dry lake) formed due to deflation.
Most Important Lakes in Sikkim
- Tsomgo Lake (Tsongmo Lake)
- In Bhutia language, Tsomgo means “source of the lake”.
- It’s a glacial lake.
- The lake is indeed frozen during the winter months.
- It is located in the East Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim
Most Important Lakes in Tamil Nadu
- Chembarambakkam Lake
- Formarly known as Puliyur Kottam.
- It is situated in the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu, India, about 25 km from Chennai.
- It was the first Artificial Lake constructed by Rajaraja Chola’s son Rajendra Chola I, and by Thiripuvana Madeviyar, prince of Kodumbalur.
- It is the source of the Adyar River.
- Kaliveli Lake or Kaliveli Lagoon
- It is located on the Coromandel Coast, near the Bay of Bengal.
- Location: Viluppuram district, Tamil Nadu, South India.
- It is a coastal lake and wetland lagoon.
- It is a seasonal wetland with a range of saline to brackish water.
- Essential grazing and breeding ground for migratory bird flyways.
- It is one of the largest wetlands in the Indian Peninsula.
- The IUCN declares Kaliveli Lake, the wetland of national and international importance.
- It is the 2nd biggest brackish lake in South India following Pulicat Lake.
- It is distributed over an area of 670 sq. km of the watershed.
- According to an estimation, it hosts more than 20,000 birds per year.
Most Important Lakes in Telangana
- Hussain Sagar (Tank Bund)
- It is a heart-shaped lake in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- It was constructed by Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah in 1563.
- it is one of the largest artificial lakes.
- Spread over – 5.7 Km2
- It’s supplied by the River Musi.
- In the middle of the lake, there is a “Rock of Gibraltar”, where the Lord Buddha 350 ton statue installed.
- Maximum depth: 32 feet.
- It separates Hyderabad and Secunderabad
- It was named after the Master of Architecture in the Kingdom Hussain Shah Wali.
- In 2012, on the occasion of World Tourism Day, UNWTO proclaimed it the “Heart of the World”
Most Important Lakes in Uttar Pradesh
- Belasagar Lake (Bela Taal)
- It is located south of Kulpahar in the Belatal village of Uttar Pradesh, India.
- It acts as a source of irrigation.
- It was constructed by Raja Parikshit of Jaitpur in 19th century.
- Govind Bhallabh Pant Sagar
- Location: Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
- It is the largest artificial (man-made) lake in India.
Most Important Lakes in Uttarakhand
- Bhimtal Lake
- Bhimtal Lake is situated in the district of Bhimtal, in the state of Uttarakhand, India.
- It is the largest lake in the Kumaon region, famously called as the “lake district of India”
- Importance: Drinking water supply; supports aquaculture.
- Its type: Gravity Masonry
- Nanital Lake (Naini Lake)
- It is a natural freshwater Lake
- It is a kidney shaped or a crescent shape water body
- It’s among the four Kumaon Hills Lakes.
- Roopkund Lake
- It is a glacial lake located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
- It is also know as Mystery Lake or Skeleton Lake
List of Most Important Lakes in India
| STATE | LAKE |
|---|---|
| Assam | Haflong Lake Deepor Beel |
| Andhra Pradesh | Hasainsagar lake Kolleru Lake Pulicat Lake Kaniairi Lake |
| Bihar | Kanwar Taal or Kabar Taal Lake |
| Gujarat | Hamirsar Lake Kankaria Lake |
| Haryana | Badkhal Lake Brahma Sarovar |
| Himachal Pradesh | Chandra Taal Lake Maharana Pratap Sagar |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Dal Lake Wular Lake Verinag Lake – Manas Bal Lake Nagin Lake Seshanag Lake Anantnag Lake |
| Karnataka | Agara Lake Ulsoor Lake |
| Kerala | Kuttanad Lake Sasthamkotta Lake Vembanad Lake Ashtamudi Lake Pariyar Lake |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhojtal Lake |
| Maharashtra | Shivsagar Lonar Lake |
| Manipur | Loktak lake |
| Meghalaya | Umiam Lake |
| Mizoram | Tam Dil |
| Nagaland | Shilloi Lake Tsumang Lake |
| Odisha | Chilika Lake |
| Punjab | HarikeKanjli |
| Rajasthan | Sambhar Lake Rajsamand Lake Pichhola Lake Jaisamand Lake Fatehsagar Lake Didwana Lake Lankaranarsar Lake |
| Sikkim | Tsomgo Lake |
| Tamil Nadu | Chembarambakkam Kaliveli Lake |
| Telangana | Hussain Sagar |
| Uttar Pradesh | Belasagar Govind Bhallabh Pant Sagar |
| Uttarakhand | Bhimtal Nanital Lake Raktasal Lake Malatal Lake Davatal Lake Naukiyatal Lake Kharpatal Lake |
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