Ashtamudi Lake

About Ashtamudi Lake:

• It is a Ramsar wetland located in Kollam district of Kerala.
• The word Ashtamudi means Eight braids in Malayalam which can be explained by the palm-shaped topography of the lake with multiple branches. 
• It is because of its eight ‘arms’ or channels, that the lake is named Ashtamudi.
• It is the second largest lake in Kerala, which has found its way into the sea through the Neendakara estuary.
• Kallada river is the major source of water for Ashtamdui lake.
• 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 highlights Quilon city, in the banks of Ashtamudi lake as one of the major trading centers in the ancient period. 
• Different species of marshy mangroves was reported in the region, including two endangered species called Syzygium travancoricum and Calamus rotang.

Q1: What is Estuary?

An estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean. When freshwater and seawater combine, the water becomes brackish, or slightly salty.

News: A lake ecosystem gasping for breath