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It is a lake and lagoon in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra state. It was created due to a meteorite. It is the only major hoverback in the basalt rock. Its water is alkaline. It is in an impact crater created by a meteorite impact during the Pleistocene Epoch.
The presence of plagioclase that has been either converted into maskelynite or contains planar deformation features has confirmed the impact origin of this crater.
Lonar Lake has been declared a Wildlife Sanctuary for the conservation and conservation of Lonar Lake. There are temples from around 1250 years ago.
Important lakes in India
Name of Lake |
Type |
Location |
Significance |
Vembanad Lake |
Lagoon |
Kerala |
Longest lake in India; a Ramsar site; supports tourism and traditional fishing. |
Chilika Lake |
Lagoon |
Odisha |
Asia's largest brackish water lagoon; a Ramsar site; critical for migratory birds. |
Dal Lake |
Freshwater |
Jammu & Kashmir |
Known for houseboats and tourism; supports aquaculture and agriculture. |
Wular Lake |
Freshwater |
Jammu & Kashmir |
One of the largest freshwater lakes in India; supports biodiversity and flood control. |
Loktak Lake |
Freshwater |
Manipur |
Known for phumdis (floating islands); Keibul Lamjao National Park is located on its phumdis. |
Sambhar Lake |
Saltwater |
Rajasthan |
Largest inland saltwater lake in India; significant for salt production and migratory birds. |
Pulicat Lake |
Lagoon |
Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu Border |
Second largest brackish water lagoon; supports flamingos and other migratory birds. |
Pangong Tso |
Endorheic (Salt) |
Ladakh |
High-altitude lake shared between India and China; a popular tourist destination. |
Nainital Lake |
Freshwater |
Uttarakhand |
Kidney-shaped lake; a popular hill station attraction. |
Tsomgo Lake |
Glacial |
Sikkim |
Sacred lake near the Indo-China border; visited for its scenic beauty. |
Bhimtal Lake |
Freshwater |
Uttarakhand |
Larger than Nainital Lake; has an island in the center. |
Kolleru Lake |
Freshwater |
Andhra Pradesh |
Bird sanctuary; supports a wide range of migratory birds. |
Upper Lake (Bhojtal) |
Artificial (Dam) |
Madhya Pradesh |
Largest artificial lake in India; serves as a major source of drinking water for Bhopal. |
Pushkar Lake |
Sacred Freshwater |
Rajasthan |
Sacred site for Hindus; hosts the annual Pushkar Camel Fair. |
Sheshnag Lake |
Glacial |
Jammu & Kashmir |
Sacred lake associated with Hindu mythology; located near Amarnath. |
Sardar Sarovar Reservoir |
Artificial (Dam) |
Gujarat |
Part of the Narmada River project; supports irrigation, power generation, and drinking water. |
Lonar Lake |
Meteoric (Saline) |
Maharashtra |
Formed by a meteor impact; unique ecosystem with saline and alkaline water. |
Pichola Lake |
Artificial (Fresh) |
Rajasthan |
Famous for Lake Palace and Jag Mandir; contributes to Udaipur's scenic beauty. |
Kanwar Lake |
Freshwater |
Bihar |
Asia's largest oxbow lake; a Ramsar site supporting birdlife. |
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements regarding Lonar Lake:
Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2, and 3 Answer: d Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: Lonar Lake is a saline soda lake situated in Maharashtra. Statement 2 is correct: Around 52,000 years ago, a meteor crashed here carving out a crater that later filled with water. Today, Lonar Lake is surrounded by lush greenery, drawing scientists and curious travelers alike. Statement 3 is correct: Lonar Crater sits inside the Deccan Plateau – a massive plain of volcanic basalt rock created by eruptions some 65 million years ago. Its location in this basalt field suggested to some geologists that it was a volcanic crater. Today, however, Lonar Crater is understood to be the result of a meteorite impact. |
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