Natural lakes are bodies of fresh water larger than 20 acres surrounded by land. They form from glaciers, blocked rivers, or filling basins. Lakes stratify into layers by temperature, oxygen, and life. They provide economic benefits through tourism. Several major Indian lakes are described, including Chilka Lake, Wular Lake, Dal Lake, Loktak Lake, and Nainital Lake. These lakes vary in location, size, depth, and importance for fishing, irrigation, power generation, tourism, and wildlife.

3.  Natural lakes are relatively large water
bodies of fresh water surrounded by land.
 For the purpose of the conservation
strategy natural lakes are defined as
standing water bodies larger than 20 acres.
 These lakes are generally found in
mountanious areas, areas with rift zone and
area with ongoing glaciation.

4.  Lakes and ponds are formed by remnants of
glaciers, blocked rivers, and rivers that fill
natural basins.
 Water is stagnant not flowing.
 The water in lakes, ponds and inland
wetlands is layered (stratified) according to
temperature, oxygen and life.
 The shoreline of lakes, ponds and inland
wetlands contains an abundance of life.

5.  They are of great economic importance as
they are good for tourism.

6.  CHILKA LAKE
 WULAR LAKE
 DAL LAKE
 LOKTAK LAKE
 PULICAT LAKE
 NAINITAL LAKE
 GOBIND SAGAR
 MAHARANA PRATAP SAGAR

8.  Lake type : Brackish
 Catchment area : 3,560 km square
 Maximum length: 64.3 km
 Surface area : 1,165 km square
 Maximum depth: 4.2 metre
 Water volume: 4 km cube

9.  Largest wintering ground for migratory birds.
 It is spread over the Puri,kjurda, & Ganjam
district of odisa.
 Largest coastal lagoon im India & second
largest in world.
 Highly productive.

11.  Location : Srinagar, Jammu & kashmir
 Lake type: Warm monomictic
 Catchment area: 316 square km
 Length : 7.44 km
 Surface area: 18-20 square km
 Average depth: 1.42 metres

12.  Second largest in the state.
 Integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir
and is named the "Jewel in the crown of
Kashmir"or "Srinagar's Jewel".
 The lake is also an important source for
commercial operations in fishing and water
plant harvesting.

14.  Location : Manipur
 Type : Fresh water (Cold)
 Catchment area: 980 km square
 Maximum length: 35 km
 Surface area: 287 km square

15.  Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in
Northeast India.
 The etymology of Loktak is Lok = "stream"
and tak = "the end“.
 It serves as a source of water for hydropower
generation, irrigation and drinking water
supply.
 Cold water fisheries is practised here.
 Icthyofauna is dominated by air breathing
fishes.

17.  Location : Uttrakhand
 Type : Natural fresh water body.
 Maximum length: 1,432 m
 Surface area: 48.76 ha
 Maximum depth : 27.3 m

18.  Nainital Lake, a natural freshwater body,
situated amidst the township
of Nainital in Uttarakhand State of India.
 Tectonic in origin, is kidney shaped or
crescent shaped and has an outfall at the
southeastern end.
 Nainital is most popular hill station of
Kumaon district. It is famous for its Naini
Lake located at the centre of the town and
several other lakes of nearby areas.

20.  Location: kangra district , Himachal pradesh
 Type : Reservoir
 Catchment area: 12,561 km square
 Maximum length: 42 km
 Surface area: 240 km square
 Max. depth: 97.84 m
 Water volume: 8.570 million cubic metres

21.  Maharana Pratap Sagar in India also known
as Pong Reservoir or Pong Dam Lake.
 Named in the honour of Maharana Pratap
(1540–1597), the reservoir or the lake is a
well-known wildlife sanctuary and one of the
26 international wetland sites declared in
India by the Ramsar Convention.