Vembanad Lake:
Climate change and pollution from slaughterhouses and shrimp peeling sheds are choking the ecosystem of Vembanad Lake, which is rapidly shrinking in acreage.
- Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India and the largest lake of Kerala.
- It is spread across an area of 2,033 sq.km., across Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts.
- It is also known as Vembanad Kayal, Vembanad Kol, Punnamada Lake (in Kuttanad), and Kochi Lake (in Kochi).
- Formed from four rivers – the Meenachil, Achankovil, Pampa, and Manimala, it also has an outlet to the Arabian Sea in the west.
- The lake surrounds the islands of Pathiramanal, Perumbalam, and Pallippuram and is a popular backwater stretch in Kerala.
- Vallam Kali (i.e Nehru Trophy Boat Race) is a Snake Boat Race held every year in the month of August in Vembanad Lake.
- The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuaryis located on the east coast of the lake.
- It was declared as a Ramsar site of international importance in 2002.
