Lakes of India UPSC

Important lakes of India for UPSC examination

1. Wular lake

• UT of J&K
• Largest fresh water lake of India.
• Formed by tectonic activity (during pleistocene).
• Jhelum river feeds the lake.
• Tulbul project is a navigation lock cum-control structure at the mouth of Wular lake.

2. Dal lake

• UT of J&K
• It is divided into Gagribal , Lokut dal , Bod dal and Nagin.
• Fresh water lake.

3. Pongong Tso lake

• UT of Ladakh (also extent to Tibet).
• Endorheic (landlocked).
• Brakish water lake.
• Lies in the path of Chushul approach.
• Lakes northern bank called as 'Chang Chenmo' which army calls fingers (total 8 fingers , India has control over 4 fingers).

• Note:- LAC passes through finger 2.
• Indian tourist only allowed till Spang Mik village and need Inner line permit.

4. Tsomoriri lake

• UT of Ladakh.
• Changthang region or Ladakh.
• Sacred for Ladakhis.
• Brackish lake.
• 'Largest' high altitude lake in India. (Entirely in Indian territory).
• Ramsar site (Tsomoriri wetland conservation reserve).
• Highest ramsar site in world.
• Need Inner line permit to visit.

5. Mansar Lake

• UT of J&K.
• Natural fresh water lake feed by Rain and ground water.
• Ramsar site.

6. Marsar lake

• UT of J&K.
• Inside 'Dachigam NP'.
• Oligotrophic (means not having nutrients - don't support wide range of flora/fauna) (thus good for drinking).

7. Suraj Tal

• Himachal Pradesh.
• Below Baralacha Pass.
• Source of Bhaga river (one of the two branches of Chenab river).
• Feed from Glaciers.

8. Chandra Tal

• Himachal Pradesh.
• Near to Chenab river.
• A ramsar site.
• Feed by Glacier (so fresh water lake).

9. Renuka lake

• Himachal Pradesh.
• Largest lake in HP.
• Ramsar site.
• Lies in Shiwalik hills.
• Internal springs is source of its water.

10. Mahendra Pratap Sagar (or Pong Dam lake)

• Himachal Pradesh.
• Artificial lake.
• Its a Dam on Beas river.
• Fresh water lake.
• A Ramsar site.

11. Gobind Sagar Lake

• Himachal Pradesh.
• Artificial lake.
• Bhakra Nangal Dam on Sutlej river.
• Fresh water.

12. Roop kund

• Uttarakhand.
• 600 skeleton were found at edge of lake in 1942.

13. Bhimtal

• Uttarakhand.

14. Nainital

• Uttarakhand.
• Tectonic in origin.
• Fresh water lake.
• Its Crescent / Kidney shaped.

15. Tsongmo Lake

• Sikkim.
• Glaciated Tarn lake.
• Oval shaped.
• Sacred for Buddhist and Hindus.

16. Nokrek Lake (also NP & BR)

• Meghalaya.
• UNESCO site.
• It is in Cherapunji (Westest place).

17. Sambhar lake

• Rajasthan.
• Largest Salt lake water lake of India.
• Salt production.
• Ramsar site.
• Siberian birds migrate in winter.

18. Pushkar lake

• Rajasthan.
• Artificial lake.
• Dam on Luni river.
• Pilgrim site.
• Pushkar fair (livestock festival) held annually.

19. Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar

• Uttar Pradesh.
• Reservoir of Rihand Dam (on Rihand river).
• Largest artificial lake of India.

20. Nalsarovar lake (also Bird sanctuary)

• Gujarat.
• Ramsar site.
• Largest wetland of Gujarat.

21. Bhojtal (wetland)

• 2 lakes upper lake and lower lake.
• Ramsar site.

22. Loktak lake

• Manipur.
• Largest fresh water lake in Northeast India.
• Famous for Phumdis (heterogeneous mass of vegetation , soil and organic matter at various stages of decomposition) floating over it.
• Keibul Lamjao is the only floating National park in world which is on Loktak lake.
• Ramsar site.

23. Lonar lake (Carter)

• Maharashtra.
• National Geo-heritage Monument.
• Saline-soda lake.
• Created by meteorite ~52000 years ago.
• Recently it was turned red (due to algae bloom).

24. Chilika lake

• Odisha.
• Asia's largest lagoon.
• World's 2nd largest lagoon.
• Spreads over Puri , Khurda and Ganjam districts.
• Its at mouth of Days river.
• Largest wintering ground in India.
• 1st Ramsar site of India.
• Famous for Irrawaddy dolphin.
• Nalabena Island (forest of reeds) - brid sanctuary is located on Chilika lake.
• Brakish lake.

25. Kolleru lake

• Andra Pradesh.
• Largest shallow fresh water lake in Asia.
• Between Krishna and Godavari deltas.
• Ramsar site.
• Migratory birds in winter (esp. Spot-billed Pelican).
• Atapaka Brid sanctuary is located in Kolleru lake (every year Pelican Bird festival is organised here).

26. Pulicat lake

• Andra Pradesh and TN boundary (major share in AP).
• 2nd largest Brackish water lake after Chilika in India.
• Annual flamingo festival is held.
• Barrier island Sriharikota seperates lake from Bay of Bengal.

27. Vembanad lake

• Kerela.
• 'Longest' lake in India.
• Largest lake of Kerela.
• Brakish lake.
• 2nd largest wetland after Sundarbans.
• Ramsar site.

28. Ashtamudi lake.

• Kerela.
• Ramsar site.
• Brakish lake.

29. Chembakkam lake

• Tamil Nadu.
• Artificial lake.
• Rainfeed lake.
• Adyar river originates from it.

30. Kodaikanal

• Tamil Nadu.
• Artificial lake.
• Fresh water lake.

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