UPSC Prelims 2018 Q77: Geography – Indian Physical Geography
- (a) Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu)
- (b) Kolleru (Andhra Pradesh)
- (c) Nainital (Uttarakhand)
- (d) Renuka (Himachal Pradesh)
Answer: (a) Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu)
Explanation
Artificial Lake vs Natural Lake
| Lake | State | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) Kodaikanal | Tamil Nadu | ARTIFICIAL | A star-shaped artificial lake created in 1863 by Sir Vere Henry Levinge, then Collector of Madurai. Central attraction of Kodaikanal hill station. |
| (b) Kolleru | Andhra Pradesh | Natural (freshwater) | India's largest freshwater lake, between Krishna and Godavari deltas. Ramsar site. |
| (c) Nainital | Uttarakhand | Natural (tectonic) | A crescent-shaped natural lake in the Kumaon hills; formed by tectonic activity. |
| (d) Renuka | Himachal Pradesh | Natural | Ramsar-listed natural wetland; sacred lake associated with Goddess Renuka. |
Answer: (a) Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu).
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Kodaikanal lake is an 1863 artificial reservoir created by Sir Vere Henry Levinge - not a natural lake.
- (b) Incorrect. Kolleru is India's largest freshwater natural lake, sustaining a rich Ramsar-listed wetland ecosystem.
- (c) Incorrect. Nainital is a natural crescent-shaped tectonic lake in the Kumaon Himalayas.
- (d) Incorrect. Renuka is a natural sacred lake in Himachal Pradesh, also a Ramsar wetland.
Key point
Artificial lakes in India: Kodaikanal (TN, 1863), Ooty (TN), Sukhna (Chandigarh), Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir, Bhavani Sagar. Natural lakes: Wular, Dal, Chilika (brackish), Loktak, Kolleru, Pulicat, Sambhar, Nainital, Renuka.
Remember
Kodaikanal Lake in Tamil Nadu is a star-shaped artificial lake created in 1863 by Sir Vere Henry Levinge, then Collector of Madurai, and remains the central attraction of the Kodaikanal hill station. In contrast, Kolleru (Andhra Pradesh), Nainital (Uttarakhand) and Renuka (Himachal Pradesh) are all natural lakes - the latter two are Ramsar-listed wetlands.
Common mistakes
- Assuming all scenic hill-station lakes are natural - Kodaikanal and Ooty lakes are man-made.
- Confusing artificial reservoirs (behind dams) with artificial ornamental lakes (Kodaikanal, Sukhna).
- Overlooking Sir Vere Henry Levinge - the British Collector credited with creating Kodaikanal lake.
Exam tip
Lake typology in India: Freshwater natural (Kolleru, Wular, Renuka), Brackish/lagoon (Chilika, Pulicat), Saltwater/desert (Sambhar), Artificial/reservoir (Nagarjuna Sagar, Kodaikanal), Glacial/tectonic (Nainital).
Sources
- Ministry of Environment - Ramsar Wetlands in India
- NCERT Class 11 Geography - India Physical Environment