What are Lakes?
Lakes can be described in the most practical and evident sense as a waterbody which is a localized water resource. The lakes are surrounded by land. The lake gets its water supply from the drainage of the river. Lakes are not any part of the ocean while it forms a major part of the earth’s water cycle, just like the huge oceans.
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Students must not confuse the lake and the lagoons. Lagoons are part of coastal areas in the ocean, lakes are totally distinct from this. Also, a lake and a pond vary, lakes are generally larger and deeper than the former. Lakes are different from a river or a stream, as rivers and streams keep on flowing while the lake water is stagnant.
Uses of Lakes
The uses of lakes are mentioned as below:
Helps in Carrying Loads: Lakes do provide a great means to transport heavy carrier goods. Large lakes like the Great Lakes located in North America provide a very cheap and convenient way to transport heavy and bulky goods like iron, coal, machinery, grains, and timber.
Lakes is the Pathway to Economic and Industrial Development: Previously human settlement took place where there was the presence of lakes, town sites are also very much influenced by the presence of lakes. People moved to the places nearby the lakes in order to get water, thereby civilization started and thus, this led to economic and industrial growth in that particular area. Lakes are an even more decisive factor when they are supplemented by large fertile rivers.
Water Storage: Lakes either natural or artificial in origin provide vital sources for the domestic water supply. They supply the water to the towns and industrial cities. For example, in Britain the Lake of Thirlmere supplies water to Manchester, Loch Katrine supplies water to Glasgow, Lake Vyrnwy located in Wales supplies water to Liverpool. In India, the Okhla Reservoir supplies water to Delhi. While, Veteran, Vihar, and Tulsi lakes supply water to Bombay.
Hydro-Electric Power Generation: In the mountainous districts, the lakes or the man-made reservoirs furnish water to generate hydroelectric power in that area. In this case, natural lakes are preferred to artificial reservoirs.
The Niagara River flowing from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario has a regular supply of this water which helps the power stations to run.
Name of Some Famous Lakes of India
Some famous lakes of India are as follows:
Bhimtal Lake of Uttarakhand
Chilika Lake in Odisha
Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir
Damdama Lake in Haryana
Gurudongmar Lake in Sikkim
Loktak Lake of Manipur
Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan
Bhojtal Lake in Madhya Pradesh
Advantages of Lakes and Rivers
Rivers and lakes contribute a great value to human beings, as they provide us with our life source which is water. For this, the advantages which are benefited from rivers and lakes cannot be merely numbered. Lakes and rivers help to:
Develop hydroelectric power.
They provide water supply for the purpose of irrigation.
Provide fresh water for drinking.
Industries and factories use river and lake water for their functioning.
Supply water for irrigation in agricultural fields.
Help to develop the fisheries.
They enhance the natural beauty of the environment, thus helping to develop tourism and provide recreation facilities.
Proper lake functioning can ease the impact of floods and droughts in a particular area by storing large amounts of water in flood time and releasing it during shortages in drought.
Importance of Lakes
Lakes are generally formed as a consequence of the tectonic or glacial activity in a typical region. Lakes are also formed due to the meandering river or even by human activity. Lakes are quite important for civilization, there are abundant reasons to point them out, this owes to the reason as lakes are a resource of water, and water is a definite source to continue life on this planet earth. Well, we will point out the importance of lakes. Also, provided below are some famous lakes which equally get their importance.
In order to regulate the flow of river water
For the purpose of storing water during the dry seasons
To maintain and balance the ecosystem
To generate hydroelectric power
Lakes also help in filling up the groundwater.
It improves and helps in preserving the biodiversity of the area, in which the lake is located.
Lakes also help the economy, by boosting the economic activity of the area. As lakes are always considered as a place of recreation, hence they favour tourism.
While in India there are different types of lakes - freshwater lakes and saltwater lakes.
The famous Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir is the largest freshwater lake in India. While, other freshwater lakes are the Dal in Jammu and Kashmir, the Bhimtal Lake, and the Nainital Lake located in Uttarakhand. Lake Kolleru is also located in Andhra Pradesh. This lake Kolleru is officially classified as a wildlife sanctuary hence this lake serves as an entertainment source.
Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan is one of the largest salt lakes which produces salt. Thus, this makes Rajasthan the third largest salt producer in the country. The brackish water is a mixture of saltwater and freshwater. The Chilika Lake situated in Orissa is the largest brackish water lake in India.
Rivers are used for the purpose of irrigation. We depend largely on rivers for fresh drinking water. River water is also used to generate hydroelectric power. Thus, we see the river water is excessively used. This is affecting the water quality of these rivers. Government actions and policies are launched to treat the river water, hence to overcome this, local people can use the lake water as a substitute for river water which more or less functions the same. Lake water too is served with fresh water. This too can be a source of irrigation and also be a source of hydroelectricity power.
The article is very interesting. It discusses the definition, importance, and uses of lakes. The name of the famous lakes in India is also mentioned in the above article.
FAQs on Uses of Lakes
1. What are the main uses of lakes for human societies as per the NCERT syllabus?
Lakes are immensely beneficial to human beings and are used in numerous ways. According to the CBSE syllabus for the 2025-26 session, their primary uses include:
- Water Storage: Lakes store large amounts of water, which is used for drinking, irrigation, and industrial purposes.
- Flood Control: They help regulate the flow of rivers by storing excess water during heavy rainfall, thus preventing floods in downstream areas.
- Hydropower Generation: Water from lakes can be dammed to generate hydroelectricity, a clean source of energy.
- Tourism and Recreation: The scenic beauty of lakes attracts tourists, providing opportunities for activities like boating, swimming, and fishing, which boosts the local economy.
- Aquatic Ecosystems: They support a rich variety of aquatic life, which is a source of food and livelihood for many communities through fishing.
2. What is the fundamental definition of a lake in geography?
In geography, a lake is defined as a large body of relatively still freshwater or saltwater that is contained within a land-based basin or depression. Unlike a river, a lake does not have a continuous flow. Most lakes are fed by rivers and streams and have an outlet from which water flows out. They are distinct from oceans and are a significant part of the Earth's hydrological cycle.
3. How exactly do lakes regulate the flow of a river and help in flood prevention?
Lakes act as natural reservoirs or buffers in a river system. During seasons of heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt, rivers often carry a large volume of water that can cause flooding. A lake in the river's course absorbs this excess water, temporarily storing it. This action reduces the peak flow of the river downstream, preventing it from overflowing its banks. Conversely, during dry seasons, the lake releases the stored water gradually, ensuring a more even and consistent flow in the river throughout the year.
4. Beyond just providing water, why are lakes considered vital for a region's climate and economy?
Lakes have a significant impact beyond being a water source. Their importance to a region's climate and economy includes:
- Climate Moderation: Large bodies of water like lakes absorb heat in summer and release it slowly in winter. This process moderates the temperature of the surrounding land, making summers cooler and winters warmer than they would be otherwise.
- Economic Hubs: Lakes are crucial for economic activities such as inland navigation, commercial fishing, salt extraction (from saline lakes), and providing cooling water for industries. Their aesthetic value also forms the backbone of the tourism industry in many regions.
5. What are the primary factors that can cause a lake to dry up over time?
Several natural and man-made factors can lead to the drying up of a lake. The most common reasons include prolonged droughts caused by climate change, which reduce rainfall and inflow from rivers. Human activities also play a major role, such as the excessive diversion of water for irrigation and industrial use, the construction of dams upstream that block water flow, and deforestation in the catchment area, which can lead to increased siltation and reduce the lake's depth and capacity.
6. How does the formation of a lake influence its primary use?
The way a lake is formed directly impacts its characteristics and how it can be used. For example:
- Glacial Lakes: Lakes formed by glacial erosion, like the Great Lakes of North America, are often deep and vast, making them ideal for navigation and large-scale water supply.
- Oxbow Lakes: These are formed when a meander of a river is cut off. They are typically shallow and are important for local ecosystems and fishing but are not suitable for large-scale navigation.
- Crater Lakes: Formed in volcanic craters, these lakes are often isolated and have unique water chemistry, making them important for scientific study and specialised tourism.
- Artificial Lakes (Reservoirs): These are man-made and are specifically designed for purposes like hydropower generation, irrigation, and flood control.
7. Can developing tourism around a lake negatively impact its ecosystem? How?
Yes, while tourism is a major economic use of lakes, unregulated development can severely harm its ecosystem. The construction of hotels and resorts can lead to the destruction of natural habitats along the shoreline. Increased human activity often results in pollution from boat fuel, sewage discharge, and solid waste. This pollution can cause eutrophication—an overgrowth of algae that depletes oxygen in the water, killing fish and other aquatic life. Therefore, sustainable tourism practices are essential to preserve the lake's natural balance.
