Lakes are inland water bodies that supply water, support fishing and attract tourists. India has both freshwater and saltwater lakes. Their names, states and special features are common questions in geography sections of exams.
Freshwater Lakes
- Wular Lake (Jammu and Kashmir) - the largest freshwater lake in India.
- Dal Lake (Srinagar) - famous for houseboats.
- Loktak Lake (Manipur) - known for floating islands called phumdis.
- Kolleru Lake (Andhra Pradesh).
Saltwater Lakes
- Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan) - the largest inland salt lake in India.
- Chilika Lake (Odisha) - the largest coastal lagoon in India.
- Pulicat Lake (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) - the second largest lagoon.
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Lakes of Kerala
Kerala's lakes are called backwaters. The Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India and is famous for tourism and the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
High Altitude Lakes
- Pangong Tso (Ladakh) - a high-altitude saltwater lake.
- Tso Moriri (Ladakh).
- Chandra Taal (Himachal Pradesh).
Quick Revision Points
- Wular Lake is the largest freshwater lake in India.
- Sambhar Lake is the largest inland salt lake.
- Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon.
- Vembanad is the longest lake in India.
- Loktak Lake has floating islands (phumdis).
- Pangong Tso is a high-altitude lake in Ladakh.
- Dal Lake is famous for houseboats.