Famous Lakes And Rivers In India And World

Lakes

• Lake Baikal (Russia) is the deepest lake in the world. One of the biggest and most ancient lakes of the world is situated nearly in the center of Asia in a huge stone bowl set 445 m above sea level. Everyone who has been to its shores is impressed and charmed by the grandeur, size, and unusual might of this Siberian miracle of nature. Other important lakes in Russia are Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga.
• Lake Eyre is an important lake in Australia.
• Lake Onakal (Uganda) and Lake Aswan (Egypt) are man-made lakes.
• Lake Tso Sekuru located on the Tibetan Plateau is the highest lake in the world.
• Lake Titicaca, located at the boundary of Bolivia and Peru is the highest navigable lake in the world.
  The highest lake in India is Devtal, located at a height of 17,745 ft in the Garhwal Himalayas.
• The Dead Sea is the lowest lake in the world, its base is located 2500 ft below sea level.
• Lake Van (Turkey) is the most saline lake in the world, with a salinity of 330%. It is followed by the Dead Sea (238%) Jordan, and Great Salt Lake (220% salinity) in the USA.
• The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world. It is a saltwater lake. Ural and Volga rivers drain into it from the north, therefore its northern part is less saline.
• Lake Victoria forms the border between Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya.
• Lake Nyasa or Lake. Malawi forms the border of Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique.
• Lake Tanganyika forms the border of Zaire. Tanzania and Zambia.
• Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world.
• The nuclear test range of China is located near the lake Lop Nor.
• Lake Chad forms the border of Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon.
• Lake Great Bear is famous as Port Radium.
• Lake Athabasca is famous as Uranium City.
• LakeVolta in Ghana is the largest man-made lake.
• Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is famous for its oil reserves.
• Wular Lake: Wular Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia and the largest in India, is located in Jammu and Kashmir. It measures 24 km across and surrounded by towering mountains, The green water of the Wular Lake is an important natural habitat for fish, a rich population of birds and wildlife. Thousands of people living on its shores and elsewhere in the Kashmir valley depend on Wular Lake for fishing to earn their livelihood.
• Dal Lake: The Kashmir valley is blessed with the exotic natural beauty of landscape and water bodies, out of them one of the best is Dal Lake. Dal Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes of India and is the second largest in the J&K valley. This is one of the most famous lakes in India and an icon of the Kashmir tourism industry. Apart from the natural beauty, Dal Lake attractions are The floating gardens, colorful shikaras, and houseboats. The east of Dal Lake was the residence of goddess Maa Durga. The Dal lake is situated in the beautiful city of Srinagar, Some of the most famous mosques are also located in Srinagar city to visit.
• Loktak Lake: Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in northeastern India, located in Manipur. It is also called the only floating lake in the world due to the floating phumdis. This ancient lake plays an important role in the economy of Manipur. It serves as a source of water for hydropower generation, irrigation drinking water supply, and wildlife. The Keibul Lamjao National Park, which is the last natural refuge of the endangered sangai now found only in Manipur.
• Chilka Lake: Chilka Lake is the brackish water lake and is the largest coastal lake in India. Chilka Lake is situated in Orissa and is Asia’s largest inland salt-water lagoon. Brackish water is water that has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. Chilika Lake, popularly known as Chilka, is the queen of natural scenery in the tribal-state Orissa, also known as the Swiss lake in the continent. The attraction of Chilika lake is fishing boats, migratory birds, and an entertaining baba. The beautiful Chilka lake is a paradise for migratory birds.
• Pulicat Lake: It is a saline backwater lake lying along the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coast; part extending to Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. It has an area of 481 sq.KM and is the 2nd largest brackish water lagoon in India after Chilka lake in Orissa.

Rivers

• The Ganga: The source of Ganga is at Gaumukh (the shape of the ice formation is like a cow's mouth), where the mighty river emerges from the depths of the Gangotri glacier. The Gangotri glacier is situated at the height of4255 m above sea level and is approximately 24 km in length and 7-8 km in width. Here the river is known as Bhagirathi after King -Bhagirath. Rising in the icy caves of Gangotri glacier, the gushing, tossing and gurgling Bhagirathi starts its long journey downwards where later it joins river 'Alaknanda' and becomes Ganga. There are many legends associated with the river Ganga, some of which are even mentioned in the ancient holy scriptures.
• The Godavari: It is the only river in India that flows from western to southern India and is considered to be one of the big river basins in India. With a length of 1465 km, it is the second-longest river in India after the Ganges river. .It is also known as "Dakshin Ganga (Southern Ganges)" or "Budi Ganga". The Godavari originates near Trimbak in the Nashik District of Maharashtra state and flows east across the Deccan Plateau into the Bay of Bengal near Narasapuram in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
• The Kavery: The origin of this river is traditionally placed at Talakaveri, Kodagu in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, flows generally south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and across the southern Deccan plateau through the southeastern lowlands, emptying into the Bay of Bengal through two principal mouths. The Kaveri basin is estimated to be 27,700 square miles (72,000 km2)
• Krishna River starts its journey in the Western Ghats at an altitude of about 1300 meters above sea level in Mahabaleshwar. The river passes through Sangli District and enters the sea in the Bay of Bengal at Hamasaledevi in Andra Pradesh. It passes through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andra Pradesh.
• Narmada River: This river rises on the summit of Amarkantak Hill in Madhya Pradesh state. It traverses the first 320 kilometers course around the Mandla Hills, which form the head of the Satpura Range; then moves towards Jabalpur passing through the `Marble Rocks`, it enters the Narmada Valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges and moves westwards towards the Gulf of Cambay. It flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, and finally meets the Arabian Sea in the Bharuch district of Gujarat. Narmada River flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh 1,077 km (669.2 miles), Maharashtra, 74 km (46.0 miles)), 35 km (21.7 miles) border between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and 39 km (24.2 miles) border between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat and in Gujarat 161 km (100.0 miles)).
• Brahmaputra River: The Brahmaputra is one of the largest rivers in the world and ranks fifth with respect to its average discharge. The river originates from the Kailash ranges of the Himalayas. It flows some 1,800 miles (2,900 km) from its source in the Himalayas to its confluence with the Ganges (Ganga) River, after which the mingled waters of the two rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal. The Brahmaputra is a river of many names. In its upper courses, where it winds through a maze of narrow gorges in Tibet, it is the Yarlung Tsangpo. After a hairpin turn near Namche Barwa, it becomes the Siang. As it cascades through the Himalayan foothills in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, it is called the Dihang. People start calling it the Brahmaputra as it widens and flows through Assam. After crossing into Bangladesh and absorbing the flow of several tributaries, it becomes the Jamuna River, then the Padma, and finally the Meghna before pouring into the Bay of Bengal.
• The Mahanadi River rises in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh and then flows in the eastward direction, cutting a ravine in the Eastern Ghat. Before joining the Bay of Bengal at False Point through several channels, the river enters the plains of Orissa near Cuttack and forms a delta. This delta is one of the largest mangrove forests in peninsular India, and also a rice-producing area. The term `Mahanadi` means Great River and it is truly one of the largest rivers in southeast India and the sixth-largest in India. The Tel and the Hadso are the main tributaries of the Mahanadi. Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Orissa share are drained by the Mahanadi.
• Tapti is a river of western India and the history of this river starts with its origin in the Betul district. It rises in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh and flows between two spurs of the Satpura Hills, across the plateau of Khandesh, and thence through the plain of Surat to the sea. It has a total length of around 724 km. and drains an area of 30,000 sq. m. For the last 32 m. of its course, it is a tidal flow, but is only navigable by vessels of small tonnage; and the port of Swally at its mouth. The history of this river is closely associated with Anglo Portuguese history. The upper reaches of the river are now deserted, owing to silting at the outflow of the river. The waters of the Tapti are usually not used for irrigation.
• Yamuna River: The mainstream of the river Yamuna originated from the Yamunotri glacier near Bandar Punch in the Mussorie range of lower Himalayas in the district of Uttar Kashi in Uttarakhand. Some say the source of the river is the Saptarishi Kund, a glacial lake. There is a sacred shrine of Yamunotri or Yamnotri, near this source at an altitude of 3235 m. The Tons and Giri rivers are the important tributaries of the Yamuna and the principal source of water in the mountainous range. The river Yamuna traverses a route length of about 1200 km in the plain from the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh to the confluence with river Ganga at Allahabad.
• Nile River (4,132 miles 6,650 km.): The River Nile is in Africa. It originates in Burundi, south of the equator, and flows northward through northeastern Africa, eventually flowing through Egypt and finally draining into the Mediterranean Sea. The River Nile is about 6,670 km (4,160 miles) in length and is the longest river in Africa and in the world. Although it is generally associated with Egypt, only 22% of the Nile’s course runs through Egypt. In Egypt, the River Nile creates a fertile green valley across the desert. It was by the banks of the river that one of the oldest civilizations in the world began. The ancient Egyptians lived and farmed along the Nile, using the soil to produce food for themselves and their animals.  
• Amazon: The Amazon river runs 4,000 miles from the Andes to the sea, and is longer than any river but the Nile. The Amazon River is, therefore, the second-longest river in the world. It is also the largest in terms of the size of its watershed, the number of tributaries, and the volume of water discharged into the sea. The vast Amazon basin covers more than two and a half million square miles, more than any other rainforests. No bridge crosses the river along its entire length.
• Mississippi-Missouri River: The Mississippi River is the second-longest river in the United States, with a length of 2,320 mi (3,734 km) from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico. The longest is its tributary the Missouri River measuring 2,341 mi (3,767 km). This river forms the Bird-foot Delta.
• Rio-Grande: This river forms the border between the USA and Mexico.
• St Lawrence River: This river forms the biggest inland waterway in the world. Niagara Falls is located on this river.
• Colorado River: World famous Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam are located on this river.
• Rhine River: The Rhine is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe. It runs for over 1,232 km (766 mi) from its source in the Swiss Alps (in Switzerland), issuing from the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier 3,353m above sea level. The Rhine flows through six countries -Switzerland, Principality of Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands before flowing into the North Sea at Rotterdam. It is one of the longest rivers in Europe. The Rhine is an important waterway. Many goods are transported over the Rhine, and the Rhine valley is also an important wine-producing region.
• Danube River: The longest river in the European Union, the Danube River is the second-longest river in Europe after Russia’s Volga. It begins in the Black Forest region of Germany and runs through 10 countries (Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine) on its way to the Black Sea. Much older than the Rhine, its basin is thought to have been the site of some of the earliest human cultures, and it remains one of Europe’s most important and historic waterways and a popular river cruise destination.
• Volga River: The Volga is the longest river in Europe. It is situated in Russia and flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea. The Volga has a length of 3,531 km, and a catchment area of 1,360,000 km. It is also Europe's largest river in terms of discharge and drainage basin.
• Niger River: The river Niger, draining into the Gulf of Guinea, is also known as the 'Oil River'.
• Zambezi River: Victoria Fall and Kariba dam are located on this river.
• Congo/Zaire River: This river intersects the Equator twice. Stanley and Livingston Falls are located on this river.
• Amur River: This river forms the border of Russia and China.
• Mekong River: This is the longest river in South-East Asia.
• Murray-Darling River: This river originates from Mt Kosciusko and is the largest river in Australia.
• R. Limpopo: This river which originates from the high velds of South Africa, cuts across the tropic of Capricorn twice.
• R. Mahe: This river of India cuts across the tropic of Cancer twice.
• Seine River: The Seine is a 776 km (482 mi)-long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Source-Seine, 30 kilometers northwest of Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre.
• Tigris River: River that was a boundary of Mesopotamia, or the "land between the rivers" (Tigris and Euphrates) The Tigris was eastern of the two rivers and flowed from a source deep in the Armenian mountains all the way to the Persian Gulf, about 1,200 miles. Both rivers were the lifeblood of Mesopotamian civilizations, giving them water and a vehicle for their trade and defense.
• Euphrates River: River that was a boundary of Mesopotamia, or the "land between the rivers" (Tigris and Euphrates) The Euphrates was the western of the two rivers and flowed from a source deep in the Armenian mountains all the way to the Persian Gulf, almost 1,800 miles. Both rivers served as means of defense and trade for every civilization in this area.
• The Huang Ho River: The Huang Ho is the world's sixth-longest river at 3,395 miles. Its source is the Kunlun Mountains, in western China. Its mouth is the Gulf of Bohai. The river is called the Yellow River, named for the color of the silts that are carried downstream in its flow. The earliest civilization in China settled on the banks of the Huang Ho. Ever since the river has been a source of life and death. The river has flooded so often that it has become known as the River of Sorrow. Possibly the worst flood in written history occurred in 1931. Between July and November of that year, the river overflowed its banks, flooding about 34,000 square miles of land completely and about 8,000 square miles partially. Entire villages and huge amounts of agriculture and farmland were washed away. About 80 million people were left homeless. Nearly 1 million people died in the flood itself and in the famines and epidemics that resulted from the flooding.
• Irrawaddy River: Irrawaddy River, Burmese Ayeyarwady, principal river of Myanmar (formerly Burma), running through the center of the country. Myanmar’s most important commercial waterway is about 1,350 miles (2,170 km) long. The river flows wholly within the territory of Myanmar. Its total drainage area is about 158,700 square miles (411,000 square km). Its valley forms the historical, cultural, and economic heartland of Myanmar.