Lagoon network in India
Designations
|
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|
Official name
| Ashtamudi Wetland
|
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Designated
| 19 August 2002
|
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Reference no.
| 1204
[1]
|
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|
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|
Official name
| Vembanad-Kol Wetland
|
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Designated
| 19 August 2002
|
---|
Reference no.
| 1214
[2]
|
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|
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The
Kerala backwaters
are a network of
brackish
lagoons
and canals lying parallel to the
Arabian Sea
of the
Malabar coast
of
Kerala
state in south-western
India
. It also includes interconnected lakes, rivers, and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km (560 mi) of waterways, and sometimes compared to
bayous
.
[3]
The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both man made and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low
barrier islands
across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the
Western Ghats
range. In the midst of this landscape there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and end points of backwater cruises.
[4]
There are 34 backwaters in Kerala.
[5]
Out of it, 27 are located either closer to
Arabian Sea
or parallel to the sea.
[5]
The remaining 7 are inland navigation routes.
[5]
The backwaters have a unique ecosystem: freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea. A
barrage
has been built near
Thanneermukkom
, so salt water from the sea is prevented from entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for
irrigation
purposes.
[6]
[7]
Many unique species of aquatic life including
crabs
,
frogs
and
mudskippers
, water birds such as
terns
,
kingfishers
,
darters
and
cormorants
, and animals such as
otters
and
turtles
live in and alongside the backwaters.
Palm
trees,
pandanus
shrubs, various leafy plants, and bushes grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape.
[7]
Hydrography
[
edit
]
National Waterway 3
from
Kollam
to
Kottappuram
, covers a distance of 205 km (127 mi) and runs almost parallel to the coastline of southern Kerala facilitating both cargo movement and backwater tourism.
[6]
Vembanad
is the largest of the lakes, covering an area of 2,033 km
2
(785 sq mi). The lake has a large network of canals that meander through the region of
Kuttanad
. The important rivers from north to south are the
Valapattanam
110 km (68 mi),
Chaliyar
169 km (105 mi),
Kadalundipuzha
130 km (81 mi),
Bharathappuzha
209 km (130 mi),
Chalakudy
130 km (81 mi),
Periyar
244 km (152 mi),
Pamba
176 km (109 mi),
Achankovil
128 km (80 mi),
Meenachil
75 km (47 mi), and
Kalladayar
121 km (75 mi). Other than these, there are 35 more small rivers and rivulets flowing down from the Ghats. Most of these rivers are navigable up to the midland region, in country crafts.
Vembanad Lake
is the longest backwater in Kerala, as well as the longest lake in India.
[5]
The
Kochi
city,
Kuttanad
,
Kumarakom
, and
Pathiramanal
Island are located in this long backwater.
[5]
The
Vellayani Lake
, the
Pookode Lake
, and the
Sasthamcotta Lake
are the freshwater lakes in Kerala.
[5]
Sasthamcotta
is the largest among them.
[5]
The Kerala backwaters host three of the world’s
Ramsar Convention
-listed
wetlands
:
Ashtamudi Lake
,
Sasthamkotta Lake
, and the
Vembanad-Kol wetlands
are noted as being
wetlands of international importance
.
[5]
Tourism
[
edit
]
Houseboats
[
edit
]
Kettuvallam
(Kerala houseboats) in the backwaters are one of the prominent tourist attractions in Kerala. More than 2,000 of these ply the waterways.
[8]
The Kerala government has classified the tourist houseboats as platinum, gold, and silver.
The
Kettuvallam
were traditionally used as grain barges, to transport the rice harvested in the fertile fields alongside the backwaters. Thatched roof covers over wooden hulls, 100 ft (30 m) in length, providing protected from the elements. At some point in time, the boats were used as living quarters by the royalty. Converted to accommodate tourists, the houseboats have become floating cottages having a sleeping area, with western-style toilets, a dining area and a sit out on the deck. Most tourists spend the night on a houseboat. Food is cooked on board by the accompanying staff?mostly having a flavour of Kerala. The houseboats are of various patterns and can be hired as per the size of the family or visiting group. The living-dining room is usually open on at least three sides providing a grand view of the surroundings, including other boats, throughout the day when it is on the move. It is brought to a standstill at times of taking food and at night. After sunset, the boat crew provide burning coils to drive away mosquitoes.
Ketuvallam
are motorised but generally proceed at a slow speed for smooth travel. All
Ketuvallam
have a generator and most bedrooms are air-conditioned. At times, as per the demand of customers, electricity is switched off and lanterns are provided to create a rural setting
[6]
[7]
Beypore
, located 10 km (6.2 mi) south of
Kozhikode
at the mouth of the
Chaliyar River
, is a famous fishing harbour, port and boatbuilding centre. Beypore has a 1,500-year tradition of boatbuilding. The skills of the local shipwrights and boatbuilders have widely sought after.
Ferry services
[
edit
]
Regular ferry services connect most locations on both banks of the backwaters.
[6]
The
Kerala State Water Transport Department
operates ferries for passengers as well as tourists. It is the cheapest mode of transport through the backwaters.
Resorts
[
edit
]
Ashtamudi lake
, which was a sleepy destination for years, has been transformed into a busy tourist destination with plush resorts around the Lake and the backwaters.
[6]
Impact on ecosystem
[
edit
]
The unregulated proliferation of motorised
houseboats
in the lakes and backwaters has raised concerns regarding the adverse impact of
pollution
from
diesel engines
and
outboard motors
on the fragile ecosystem.
Economic significance
[
edit
]
Connected by artificial canals, the backwaters form an economical means of transport, and a large local trade is carried on by inland navigation. Fishing, along with fish curing, is an important industry.
Kerala backwaters have been used for centuries by the local people for transportation, fishing and agriculture. The region has supported the efforts of the local people to earn a livelihood. In more recent times, agricultural efforts have been strengthened with the reclamation of some backwater lands for rice growing, particularly in the Kuttanad area. Boat-making has been a traditional craft, so has been the
coir
industry.
[7]
Kuttanad region is crisscrossed with waterways that run alongside extensive paddy fields, as well as fields of
cassava
,
banana
and
yam
. The crops are grown on the low-lying ground and irrigated with fresh water from the canal and waterways connected to
Vembanad
lake.
Palakkad
, the granary of Kerala, lies on the bank of
Bharathappuzha
river.
Thrissur-Ponnani Kole Wetlands
are fertile.
Ponnani
Kole Wetlands lie on the bank of Biyyam backwater. The area is similar to the
dikes
of the Netherlands, where land has been reclaimed from the sea and crops are grown.
[9]
Ecological significance
[
edit
]
Vembanad Wetland is included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the
Ramsar Convention
for the conservation and sustainable use of
wetlands
.
[10]
Boat races
[
edit
]
Chundan vallams
or snake boats are narrowboats over 100 feet (30 m) long, with a raised prow that stands 10 feet (3.0 m) above water and resembles the hood of a snake. Traditionally these were used by local rulers to transport soldiers during waterfront wars. In modern times, it has spawned a new sport ? the
Vallam Kali
(boat race). Each Chandan vallam accommodates about a hundred muscular oarsmen.
[6]
Boat races are occasions of great excitement and entertainment with thousands gathered on the banks to watch and cheer. Most of these races are held in the Kuttanad Region
[6]
The boat races starts with
Champakulam Moolam Boat Race
which is held on the
Pamba River
in the village
Champakulam
on Moolam day (according to the Malayalam Era M.E) of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple.
When
Jawaharlal Nehru
visited Kerala in 1952, four traditional Chundan valloms went to receive him. A snake boat race was organized for him. He was so impressed that when he went back to Delhi, he sent back a gleaming silver trophy for a boat race. Even today, the 1.5 km
Nehru Trophy Boat Race
is the most prestigious.
The Thazhathangadi boat race held every year on the Meenachil river, at Thazhathangadi, Kottayam is one of the oldest and most popular boat races in the state. In 1956, emperor of Ethiopia,
Haile Selassie
visited Thazhathangadi during his imperial tour of India, and witnessed the boat race. Subsequently winners of the race were given the Haile Selassie Ever rolling trophy.
Other renowned boat races are: Indira Gandhi Boat Race,
Champakulam Moolam Boat Race
,
Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali
,
Payippad Jalotsavam
,
Kallada Boat Race
and
Kumarakom Boat Race
.
Backwater regions
[
edit
]
Kuttanad
[
edit
]
Important in the ancient history of South India, Kuttanadu is a region spanning the
Alappuzha
and
Kottayam
districts; it is well known for its vast paddy fields and geographical peculiarities. The region is the lowest lying of any in India and is one of the few places in the world where farming is carried around 1.2 to 3.0 metres (4 to 10 ft) below sea level. Four of Kerala's major rivers?the Pamba, Meenachil, Achankovil, and Manimala?flow into the region, and it is well known for its boat races.
Vembanad Lake
, the largest lake in Kerala is at the heart of Backwater tourism, with hundreds of
kettuvallams
plying it and with numerous resorts on its banks. The
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
is located on the east coast of the lake.
The major occupation in Kuttanadu is farming, with rice the most important agricultural product; it is the major rice producer in the state. This activity gives the area its moniker of "The Rice Bowl of Kerala". Large farming areas near Vembanad Lake were reclaimed from the lake. In 2013, the
Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) of the United Nations formally declared the below-sea-level farming system in Kuttanad as
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems
(GIAHS).
[11]
Kollam
[
edit
]
Kollam
(earlier known as Quilon) was one of the leading trade centres of the ancient world, eulogised by travellers such as
Ibn Battuta
and
Marco Polo
. It is also the starting point of the backwater waterways. The
Ashtamudi Kayal
, known as the gateway to the backwaters, covers about 30 per cent of Kollam.
[6]
Sasthamcotta Kayal, the large freshwater lake is 28.5 km from Kollam city.
Islands of Kollam
[
edit
]
Islands are the eye-catching factors as well as the beauty of
Lake Ashtamudi
,
Kollam
. Most of these islands are potential tourism spots in the
state
. The
Indian Railways
also planning to develop one of the islands in
Kollam
for a tourism project.
[12]
There are big as well as small islands which are inhabited and uninhabited by human beings. There are more than 15 islands in
Ashtamudi Lake
. The important islands in
Kollam
are:
[13]
- Munroe Island
- Chavara Thekkumbhagom
- Perungalam
- St. Sebastian Island
- San Thome Island
- Pezhumthuruth
- Kakkathuruth
- Pattamthuruth
- Paliyanthuruthu (
Palliyamthuruthu
)
- Neettum thuruth
- Puthenthuruth
- Poothuruth
- Pannaykkathuruth
- Veluthuruth
- Neeleswaram thuruth
Estuaries of Paravur
[
edit
]
Paravur Estuaries
lie near to the south-western coast of
Kollam
.
[14]
The place is world-famous for its natural beauties, backwater locations, white-sand beaches and concentration of temples in every square kilometer.
[15]
The peninsula of
Paravur
is one of the most visited in
Kollam district
. Both north and south tips of
Paravur
town have both peninsula and estuary.
Pozhikara
is north and
Thekkumbhagam
is south of
Paravur
.
[14]
[16]
One more estuary mouth in
Pozhikara
, which is very close to
Pozhikara
Devi Temple, which has breached in 2014 under the supervision of Water Resources Department (WRD), after a long gap of 14 years.
[17]
Munroe Island
[
edit
]
Munroethuruth
or
Munroe Island
is a place surrounded by Kallada River,
Ashtamudi Lake
and
Sasthamkotta Lake
in
Kollam district
, Munroe Island is a cluster of eight tiny islands, Blessed with a number of criss-cross canals and zigzag water channels, this Island plays a host to many migratory birds from various
countries around the world. You can watch birds such as Kingfisher, Woodpecker, Egret, Bee-eater, Crow pheasant, and Paddy Birds. There is yet another rare chance to see the traditional Indian spice plants such as Pepper, Nutmeg and Cloves. (
[1]
)
The first community tourism programme in the State will start functioning from the MunroeThuruthu islands. Coir making is a
home industry to almost all the village living people. It is very interesting to watch the coir making by the village ladies with the help of weaving Wheels. They make the coir ropes by hand. In addition to this, on the way, you can see the process of extracting coconut oil from the "copra" [dried coconut]. Among the routine traditional engagements, duck, poultry farm and prawn breeding are common in all houses.
Thiruvananthapuram
[
edit
]
Vellayani Lake
[
edit
]
It is one of the freshwater lakes in Kerala.
[5]
It is located in the city of
Thiruvananthapuram
, which is also Kerala's administrative headquarters.
[5]
It is located nearer to
Kovalam
beach.
Thiruvallam
[
edit
]
Thiruvallam backwaters
are just 6 km from
Thiruvananthapuram
, the state capital. Known for its canoe rides, Thiruvallam is becoming increasingly popular with tourists. Two rivers, the Killi and the
Karamana
, come together at Thiruvallam. Not far from Thiruvallam is the
Veli Lagoon
, where there are facilities for water sports, a waterfront park and a floating bridge. The
Akkulam
Boat club, which offers boating cruises on Akkulam Lake and a park for children, is also a popular tourist attraction near Thiruvallam.
Wayanad
[
edit
]
Pookode Lake
[
edit
]
Wayanad
is home to one of the state's freshwater lakes -
Pookode Lake
.
[5]
It is also one of the 7 inland navigation backwaters in Kerala.
[5]
Panamaram
, the rivulet which ultimately becomes
Kabani River
, originates from the Pookode lake.
[18]
It is spread across an area of 8.5 hectares and with a maximum depth of 6.5 metres.
[19]
Kannur
[
edit
]
Kavvayi backwater
is a stunningly beautiful backwater destination tucked away near
Payyannur
in the district of
Kannur
.
Kavvayi Backwaters
form the biggest wetland in north
Kerala
. With its five rivers, the
Kavvayi River
, and its tributaries-
Kankol
, Vannathichal, Kuppithodu, and
Kuniyan
? flows together to form the Kavvayi kayal. Adorned with many small islands, a relaxing boat ride in these waters is the best way to enjoy the mesmerizing greenery of the surroundings.
Kasargod
[
edit
]
Kasargod
in north Kerala is a backwater destination, known for rice cultivation, coir processing and lovely landscape, it has the sea to the west and the
Western Ghats
to the north and east. Cruise options are Chandragiri and Valiyaparamba near
Kavvayi Backwater
. Chandragiri has situated 4 km to the southeast of Kasargod town and takes tourists to the historic
Chandragiri fort
.
Valiyaparamba
is a scenic backwater stretch near Kasargod. Four rivers flow into the backwaters near Kasargod and there are many small islands along these backwater stretches, where birds can be seen.
Kozhikode
[
edit
]
Kozhikode
(also known as Calicut) has backwaters which are largely unexplored by tourist hordes.
Elathur
, the
Canoly Canal
and the
Kallayi River
are favourite haunts for boating and cruising.
Korapuzha
, the venue of the Korapuzha Jalotsavam, is a popular water sports destination.
Malappuram
[
edit
]
The coastal region of
Malappuram
contains the backwaters like Biyyam, Manoor,
Veliyankode
, Kodinhi, etc. Biyyam backwater which lies south of
Bharathappuzha
river (which is also the second longest river of Kerala) is the largest among them. Biyyam backwater and
Conolly Canal
together empties into
Arabian Sea
near
Puthuponnani
promontory.
Literature
[
edit
]
Two prominent writers in the region are Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and Arundhati Roy.
Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
, (1912?1999), the Padmabhusan and
Jnanpith
and
Sahitya Akedemi
award-winning writer, was born in Thakazhi village in
Alappuzha district
.
[20]
He wrote in Malayalam. His novel
Chemmeen
has been translated into most Indian languages and several foreign languages.
Arundhati Roy
(born 1961) was brought up in Ayemenem near Kottayam, and her
Booker Prize
?winning
The God of Small Things
is set in Kerala.
[21]
Movies
[
edit
]
A number of movies were filmed in the backwaters around Alleppey and other parts of the state.
- Numerous Malayalam movies
Some other major movies include
Photo gallery
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Ashtamudi Wetland"
.
Ramsar
Sites Information Service
. Retrieved
25 April
2018
.
- ^
"Vembanad-Kol Wetland"
.
Ramsar
Sites Information Service
. Retrieved
25 April
2018
.
- ^
"Austin Pick: A Billion People in a Coconut Shell"
. Archived from
the original
on 2 February 2009
. Retrieved
28 December
2008
.
- ^
"11 Prime Destinations in Kerala for Backwater Tour"
. Archived from
the original
on 7 July 2014
. Retrieved
1 July
2014
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
Chandran 2018
, p. 342.
- ^
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Ayub, Akber (ed),
Kerala: Maps & More
,
Backwaters
, 2006 edition 2007 reprint, pp. 40-53, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore,
ISBN
81-902505-2-3
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Backwaters in Kerala"
.
Kerala Backwater
. Kerala Backwater Pvt. Ltd. 2015
. Retrieved
25 April
2015
.
- ^
Abraham, Tanya (31 October 2005).
"Eco-friendly boats to ply backwaters"
.
The Hindu
. Archived from the original on 20 May 2009
. Retrieved
20 October
2015
.
{{
cite news
}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (
link
)
- ^
"Kuttanad Bacwaters"
. Kerala Backwater
. Retrieved
31 December
2007
.
- ^
"The List of Wetlands of International Importances"
(PDF)
. The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 2 January 2008
. Retrieved
7 January
2008
.
- ^
"FAO Heritage Status to Kuttanad"
.
Kerala Tourism
. Retrieved
22 December
2016
.
- ^
"Bhushi dam area may get a holiday resort - Times of India"
.
The Times of India
. 17 July 2014
. Retrieved
11 March
2015
.
- ^
"KOLLAM - THE PRINCE OF ARABIAN SEA - The Hindu"
. Retrieved
11 March
2015
.
- ^
a
b
Vishaw (7 December 2007).
"Estuaries of India"
.
Indian Officer
. Archived from
the original
on 3 April 2015
. Retrieved
25 April
2015
.
- ^
"Paravur Municipality"
. Archived from
the original
on 10 October 2017
. Retrieved
16 March
2015
.
- ^
"Impact of Sea-Sand Filling in the Paravur-Kappil Backwaters, Southern Kerala with Special Reference to Phytoplankton Productivity"
(PDF)
. Retrieved
16 March
2015
.
- ^
"Paravur estuary breached :The Hindu"
.
The Hindu
. 29 April 2014
. Retrieved
16 March
2015
.
- ^
"Waynad: Rivers"
.
Waynad District website
. Collectorate, Wayanad, Kerala State
. Retrieved
22 December
2011
.
- ^
"Lakes and Islands"
.
- ^
"Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai"
. india9.com
. Retrieved
31 December
2007
.
- ^
"Arundhati Roy ? a life full of beginnings and no ends"
. chitram.org. Archived from
the original
on 28 September 2007
. Retrieved
31 December
2007
.
Notes
[
edit
]
- Chandran, VP (2018).
Mathrubhumi Yearbook Plus - 2019
(Malayalam ed.). Kozhikode: P. V. Chandran, Managing Editor, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Company Limited, Kozhikode.
External links
[
edit
]
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Inland rivers
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Inland lakes, deltas, etc.
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Coastal
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Categories
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Organisations
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Informative articles
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Airports
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Amusement parks
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Archaeological sites
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Beaches
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Boat races
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Caves
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Dams
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Festivals
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Forts
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Islands
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Lakes
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Lighthouses
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Mountains
| |
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Museums
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Palaces
| |
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Ancient residences
| |
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Waterfalls
| |
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Wildlife sanctuaries
| |
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Zoos
| |
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9°51′49″N
76°21′34″E
/
9.86348°N 76.3594°E
/
9.86348; 76.3594