Ashtamudi Lake: Study
Researchers aim to unravel mechanisms driving unique cooperation between wild dolphins and traditional fishers in Ashtamudi Lake.
- It is a freshwater lake located in the Kollam District of Kerala.
- It is the second largest lake in Kerala, after Vembanad Lake.
- It covers an area of around 61.4 sq.km. The lake runs over a length of 16 kilometres.
- It is often referred to as the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala and is famous for its houseboat cruises.
- The word ‘Ashtamudi’ means Eight braids in Malayalam, which can be explained by the palm-shaped topography of the lake with multiple branches.
- The lake is fed by several rivers, including the Kallada River, and eventually drains into the Arabian Sea.
- It was designated as a Ramsar site in 2002.
- The historical significance of Ashtamudi Lake dates back to the 14th century, when the lake surroundings were the important port connecting the ancient city of Quilon to the rest of the world.
- Historical records of the Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta highlight Quilon City, on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake, as one of the major trading centers in the ancient period.
- The Ashtamudi region is also known for its traditional coir industry.
- The wetland supports 57 species of birds (6 migratory and 51 resident species) and 97 species of fish (42 typically marine, 3 estuarine, 9 estuarine-riverine, and 15 marine-estuarine).
- The lake supports several endangered and endemic species, such as the pearl spot fish, the mangrove crab, the otter, the water snake, the kingfisher, the egret, the heron, and the cormorant.
