Kolleru Lake:
The Southern Zonal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently restrained the Andhra Pradesh Government from proceeding with the six infrastructure projects in Kolleru wetland area.
- It is a large, natural, shallow, freshwater lake located in northeastern Andhra Pradesh.
- It lies between the Krishna and Godavari deltas near the city of Eluru. The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for these two rivers.
- It is the largest shallow freshwater lake in Asia.
- It covers an area of 308 sq.km.
- The lake drains into the Bay of Bengal through the Upputeru river. Occasionally, small amounts of salt water enter the otherwise freshwater lake through this river.
- It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999 and a Ramsar Site in November 2002.
- It serves as a habitat for migratory birds. It regularly supports more than 50,000 waterfowls, due to which it has been selected as an Important Bird Area (IBA).
- Kolleru Lake falls on the migratory route called the Central Asian Flyway (CAF).
- Major bird species found here include Siberian cranes, pelicans, and painted storks
