Rivers, Lakes, Dams & Water Resources Module
Lakes, Wetlands & Waterfalls
Inland water bodies, including freshwater tectonic lakes, coastal brackish lagoons, meteoritic crater formations, and high-altitude waterfalls, constitute vital ecological and hydrological assets across India. Notable lacustrine systems include Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir (one of Asia's largest freshwater lakes), Chilika Lake in Odisha (Asia's largest brackish water lagoon), Loktak Lake in Manipur (featuring floating phumdis and Keibul Lamjao National Park), and Lonar Lake in Maharashtra (a meteorite impact crater). Major waterfalls such as Kunchikal Falls on the Varahi River, Jog Falls on the Sharavathi, and Dudhsagar Falls on the Mandovi highlight India's striking relief and drainage topography.
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- Chilika Lake in Odisha is the largest coastal lagoon in India and Asia's largest brackish water lake, designated as India's first Ramsar wetland in 1981.
- Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, fed by the Jhelum River, is one of the largest freshwater tectonic lakes in South Asia.
- Loktak Lake in Manipur is famous for its floating masses of vegetation called 'phumdis' and houses the world's only floating national park, Keibul Lamjao.
- Lonar Lake in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra is a hypersaline and alkaline lake created by a meteorite impact during the Pleistocene Epoch.
Curriculum & Reference Sources: Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ramsar Convention Secretariat, and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).