Two rivers seem to feed this lake, but neither actually does. Kolleru Lake sits squarely between the Krishna and Godavari deltas, yet its real water source is two small seasonal streams.
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Kolleru Lake
Location
Andhra Pradesh, mainly Eluru district.
Between the Krishna and Godavari deltas.
Water Source
Budameru and Tammileru seasonal streams.
Not directly fed by Krishna or Godavari.
Status
Ramsar site since 2002; wildlife sanctuary since 1999.
Major threat: aquaculture encroachment.
Why this matters for the exam
A 2023 UPSC prelims question tested exactly this: Kolleru Lake is not “directly fed” by the Krishna River, despite lying between the two deltas.
Must Know.
A Lake Between Two Deltas.
Location and Water Source.
- Location. Kolleru Lake lies mainly in Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh, in the inter-deltaic plain between the Krishna and Godavari river deltas.
- Size. The lake covers about 245 square kilometres, within a larger Ramsar wetland area of 302 square kilometres.
- Not Directly Fed. Despite sitting between two major rivers, Kolleru is fed directly by two seasonal streams, the Budameru and Tammileru, not by the Krishna or Godavari themselves.
- Canal Links. The lake connects to the Krishna and Godavari irrigation systems through more than 67 major and minor canals.
- India’s Largest. Kolleru is considered India’s largest freshwater lake by area, among shallow, seasonally variable lakes.
Previous Year Question.
Asked as part of: “Consider the following statements. Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake.” This statement was tested as false in UPSC CSP 2023, GS Paper I, alongside Wular and Kanwar Lakes. View this question.
Good to Know.
Conservation Status.
Protection and Threats.
- Wildlife Sanctuary. Kolleru was declared a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999, under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, covering 308 square kilometres.
- Ramsar Site. It was designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance on 19 November 2002.
- Aquaculture Threat. Aquaculture is the lake’s biggest threat. Satellite imagery from 2001 showed roughly 42% of the lake occupied by fish ponds, effectively turning parts of it into a drain.
- Bird Life. Kolleru historically hosted around 20 million resident and migratory birds, including spot-billed pelicans, painted storks, and greater flamingos.
Test Yourself.
Great to Know.
Related Indian Lakes.
Comparing Lake Types.
- A Deltaic Lake. Kolleru is a deltaic/inter-deltaic lake, shaped by two river systems around it rather than fed directly by either.
- Compare to Wular. This contrasts with Wular Lake in Kashmir, a tectonic lake directly fed and drained by the Jhelum River.
- Compare to Kanwar. It also differs from Kanwar Lake in Bihar, an oxbow lake formed by a river’s meandering rather than by delta drainage.
- Exam Angle. UPSC often tests exactly this kind of distinction: a lake near a major river is not automatically fed by that river.
Beyond the answer
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