A lake is a naturally occurring body of water surrounded by land. It is a large body of slow-moving or standing water.

There are millions of lakes in the world. They are found on every continent and in every kind of environment—in mountains and deserts, on plains, and near seashores.

According to a count made in 2014, there are around 117 million lakes on planet Earth

Types of Lakes

There are many different types of lakes, including freshwater lakes, saltwater lakes, glacial lakes, and volcanic lakes.

The water in the lakes comes from rain, snow, melting ice, streams, and groundwater seepage. The type of lake depends on its location, formation, and the sources of water that flow into and out of the lake.

Lakes in India

India is home to many lakes, ranging from freshwater to brackish and saltwater lagoons.

Lakes in India are not only important ecological resources, but also have a lot of cultural, social, and economic importance. Here is a List of the top 10 largest lakes in India

Vembanad Lake

The Vembanad Lake is the largest lake in India with an area of 2033 square kilometers. It is not only the largest but the longest lake in India also.

The lake has a length of 96.5 km which makes it the longest lake in India and is approximately 14 kilometers wide at its widest point.

The lake spans many districts of Kerala and the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on the east coast of the lake.

Read More: Largest Lake in India – The Vembanad Lake

Chilika Lake

Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the largest brackish water lagoon in the world after the New Caledonian barrier reef.

It is spread over the Puri, Khordha, and Ganjam districts of Odisha covering an area of over 1,165 sq km. The pear-shaped lagoon is about 64.5 km. long and its width varies from 5 to 18 km.

The Chilika Lake is home to millions of migratory birds and tourists gather around the year to enjoy sighting Irrawaddy dolphins near Satpada Island.

Shivaji Sagar Lake

Shivaji Sagar Lake is the largest freshwater artificial lake in India. It was formed after the Koyna River was impounded by the Koyna Dam.

The Shivaji Sagar Lake is located in Satara in Maharastra and spans over an area of 891.7 sq km. It has a length of 50 km and a depth of 80 m.

Pangong Lake

Pangong Lake commonly known as Pangong Tso is situated at a high altitude of 4,350 meters. It is a seawater lake with one-third of it lying in India and the rest two-thirds in China.

The Pangong Lake is almost 5 kilometers wide and 134 kilometers long and is the world’s highest saltwater lake.

The lake is among the saltiest water bodies in the world and despite the saline content it freezes during winter.

The lake is also known to change colors, appearing blue, green, and red at different times.

Indira Sagar Lake

The Indira Sagar Lake is located on the Narmada River in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. It is the second-largest artificial freshwater lake in terms of surface area after Shivaji Sagar Lake.

Indira Sagar Lake helps to provide water to the nearby villages for irrigation and is one of the most important lakes in India.

Read More: Largest Freshwater Lake in India – The Walur Lake

Pulicat Lake

The Pulicat lake is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India after Chilika Lake. It lies at the border of the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on the Barricade Island of Sriharikota.

The lake is popular for flamingos, storks, and kingfishers watching and for water activities. 

Every year during the month of December a three-day Flamingo Festival is held at the lake which attracts plenty of tourists.

Sardar Sarovar Lake

Sardar Sarovar Lake is an artificial lake in India that was made by damming the Narmada River near Navagam in Gujarat. It is one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in India.

The Statue of Unity is located near Sardar Sarovar Lake and has proved to be a stimulant for the development and upliftment of the tribal population in the area around the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

The lake is stretched across an area of 375 sq km and attracts thousands of tourists every year. 

Loktak Lake

The Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. The pristine lake is situated in Manipur and is one of the most popular tourist attractions.

The lake is known for its floating circular swamps which are called phumdis in the local language. These swamps look almost like islands and are a mass of soil, organic matter, and vegetation. 

Nagarjuna Sagar Lake

The Nagarjuna Sagar Lake was created by the construction of the Nagarjuna Sagar dam on the river Krishna

The lake is spread across the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh and the Nalgonda district of Telangana covering an area of almost 285 sq km.

It is also known as the tallest masonry dam in India built at a majestic height of 124 m.

Wular Lake

The Walur Lake is the largest Freshwater Lake in India. It is also known as Wolar in Kashmiri and is one of the largest freshwater lakes in South Asia.

The Lake has an area of 189 sq. km but varies seasonally from 30 to 189 square kilometers and the lake basin was formed as a result of tectonic activity.

The Lake is located in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir. Nestled amid the snow-capped Himalayas, and lush green meadows the lake attracts visitors and tourists from across the world.

List of Top 10 largest lakes in India

Some Interesting facts about Lakes

The Caspian Sea in Europe and Asia is the world’s largest lake with an area of more than 370,000 sq km.

Lake Baikal in Russia is the oldest existing and largest freshwater lake on Earth in terms of volume. It is also the deepest lake in the world, at 1,620 meters (5,314 feet), and contains 20% of the world’s total unfrozen freshwater reserve.

The five Great Lakes – Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario – span a total surface area of 94,600 square miles and are all connected by a variety of lakes and rivers, making them the largest freshwater system in the world.

Lake Hillier is a pink-colored lake on Middle Island in Western Australia. The reason of its pink color is still a topic that is not fully understood by scientists

Read More: Top 10 Longest Rivers in India