India's lakes come in types. Freshwater lakes include Wular in Kashmir, Dal in Srinagar and Loktak in Manipur, famous for its floating islands (phumdis) and the floating Keibul Lamjao National Park. Brackish lagoons are coastal lakes mixed with sea water, such as Chilika (a Ramsar site since 1981 with Irrawaddy dolphins) and Pulicat on the east coast.
Key facts
- Chilika is described as the largest salt water lake in India; Gurudongmar (Sikkim) is the highest.
- Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar (Rihand dam, Uttar Pradesh) is the largest man-made lake; Bhopal is the 'City of Lakes'.
- Keibul Lamjao in Manipur, on Loktak lake, is the world's only floating national park.
- Chilika and Keoladeo were India's first Ramsar sites (1981); Loktak is on the Montreux Record of threatened sites.
Why exams ask about it
Largest, longest, highest and saltiest lake, and which state each lies in, are the usual questions.