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Vembanad Lake

07-01-2025

07:12 AM

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1 min read
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Overview:

Climate change and pollution from slaughterhouses and shrimp peeling sheds are choking the ecosystem of Vembanad Lake, which is rapidly shrinking in acreage.

About Vembanad Lake:

  • It is the longest lake in India, as well as the largest lake in the state 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, the lake 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 Sanctuary is located on the east coast of the lake.
  • It was declared as a Ramsar site of international importance in 2002.

Q1: What is a Ramsar site?

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, more commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, is an international agreement promoting the conservation and wise use of wetlands. It is the only global treaty to focus on a single ecosystem. Ramsar sites refer to sites listed on the List of Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar List. These sites are designated because they meet the Criteria for identifying Wetlands of International Importance. The first criterion refers to Sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types, and the other eight cover Sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity. These criteria emphasize the importance the Convention places on sustaining biodiversity.

Source: TH