Vembanad Lake

Vembanad Lake, the largest lake in Kerala, is called by different names, as it flows through different districts of the state. Since Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in Kerala, the much celebrated Nehru Trophy Boat Race is also conducted on a major portion of this lake. The race is conducted at Kuttanad region, where the Lake is known as Punnamada Lake. The lake is in itself an ecosystem and spans an area of 2033sqkm. The lake has also the pride to be known as the largest wetland eco system in India. Vembanad Lake is bordered by three major districts of Kerala, namely Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam. The lake lies at the sea level and is separated by the Arabian Sea just by a barrier Island. The lake spans 14km at its widest point. The lake is a major source of fresh water for the state. It helps in the irrigation of a large part of the farming area of the state.

Recently, work was done towards the beautification of Vembanad Lake, in order to attract more tourists. The most popular location on the shores of Vembanad Lake is Kumarakom Tourist Village, situated on the east coast of the lake. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary too is located nearby on just the northern side of Kumarakom Village. A unique and interesting part of the lake is Thanneermukkom salt water barrier, which was constructed as a part of Kuttanad Development Scheme. The part of the barrier divided the lake into two parts so that the tidal waves could be prevented from intruding into the Kuttanad lowlands. One part is the perennial brackish saltwater and the other part is the fresh water part, which is fed by major rivers of Kerala. The barrier is present on the narrower part of the lake. The lake is an abode for more than 20,000 water fowls in India. The people who live on the shores of the lake are dependent on the lake for earning their livelihood. The main professions for people living on the shores are agriculture, fishing, tourism, inland navigation, and coir retting and lime shell collection.