Largest Lakes in India, Top 10 Longest Lakes List

India boasts a diverse array of lakes, each playing a significant role in its ecological and cultural landscape. From the vast brackish waters of Chilika Lake to the scenic beauty of Vembanad Lake, these significant bodies of water contribute to regional biodiversity, support local economies, and offer vital resources. Exploring the largest lakes in India reveals their immense importance and unique characteristics that make them integral to the country’s natural heritage.

Largest Lakes in India

Lakes in India: The lake is a huge water body that is encircled by land, and it is much bigger than a pond. There are many important lakes in India located in several states of India. Some lakes are very large and can be confused with rivers however, there is a difference between the flow of lakes and rivers.

There are several important lakes in India including Pulicat lake and Kolleru Lake in Andhra Pradesh. Vembanad Lake in Kerala is the largest lake in India with a depth of 4.2 meters and 1165 square Kilometers.

List of Largest Lakes in India

India’s diverse landscape features numerous significant lakes, each with ecological, cultural, or economic importance. From the serene Dal Lake in Kashmir to the vast Chilika Lake in Odisha, these lakes play crucial roles in the country’s biodiversity and heritage. Here is the list of important lakes in India.

Important Lakes in Indian Union Territories

Top 10 Largest Lakes in India

Vembanad Lake is the largest lake of India in terms of area with an area of 2033 square kilometers, followed by Chilika Lake, Shivaji Sagar Lake and Indira Sagar Lake.

Here is the list of top-10 largest lakes in India:

Types of Lakes in India

There are several water bodies in India including lakes, rivers, and ponds. These water bodies are of huge significance in India. The Lakes in India are of different types as they are formed out of different weather conditions and some are man-made. The types of lakes found in India are given below:

Freshwater lakes

These have unsalted water that is found in low-lying areas and these are fed from rivers, streams, and runoffs. The largest freshwater lake in India is Wular Lake.

Saltwater Lake

Saltwater lakes have a high concentration of salts. Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan is an example of Saltwater Lake.

Artificial Lake

These artificial lakes are man-made lake that is used to store water for public use. For example, Chembarambakkam in Tamil Nadu is an artificial lake.

Oxbow Lakes

The oxbow lakes are formed when a wide meander of a river is cut off and then a lake is formed when the river finds a different shorter course. Chandubi in Assam is an example of Oxbow lake.

Crater Lakes

The crater lakes are formed when there is a collapse or explosive activity of volcanic eruptions. An example of a Crater lake is Lonar Lake in Maharashtra.