Geography: Lakes

Vembanad Lake receives water from several rivers.

Over 50 rivers and streams source Chilika Lake.

India, a country with a vast and diverse landscape ranging from the Himalayan peaks to coastal plains, is home to numerous significant lakes, each offering unique ecological and cultural attributes. Among these, Dal Lake in Kashmir, renowned for its scenic beauty and the traditional houseboats that grace its waters, stands out as a symbol of the region's heritage. The following table provides an overview of India's major lakes, focusing on key aspects such as the lake's surface area, its elevation above sea level, its primary water source, and the nature of its outflow.

Lake Name	Area	Elevation	Water Source	Outflow
Vembanad Lake (Kochi Lake)	2,034 km² (785 mi²)	0 m (0 ft)	Multiple rivers	Canals to Laccadive Sea
Chilika Lake	1,170 km² (451 mi²)	0–2 m (0–6.5 ft)	50+ rivers and streams	Bay of Bengal
Indira Sagar Lake	913 km² (352 mi²)	245 m (803 ft)	Narmada River	N/A (reservoir)
Shivsagar Lake	891 km² (344 mi²)	1,120 m (3,674 ft)	Koyna River	N/A (reservoir)
Pangong Tso Lake	700 km² (270 mi²)	4,350 m (14,271 ft)	Glacial; streams	Evaporation
Pulicat Lake	450 km² (173 mi²)	1 m (3.2 ft)	Bay of Bengal; three rivers	Bay of Bengal
Sardar Sarovar Lake	375 km² (144 mi²)	23 m (75 ft)	Narmada River	N/A (reservoir)
Loktak Lake	287 km² (110.8 mi²)	2,521 m (8,270 ft)	Manipur River; several streams	Ungamel Channel
Nagarjuna Sagar	285 km² (110 mi²)	149 m (488 ft)	Krishna River	N/A (reservoir)
Wular Lake	30–189 km² (11–72 mi²)	1,580 m (5,183 ft)	Jhelum River	Jhelum River
Dal Lake	18–22 km² (6.9–8.5 mi²)	1,583 m (5,194 ft)	Telbal Nallah Channel from Marsar lake	Dal Gate and Nalla Amir Channels