With 240 sq.kms in size, a depth of 40 feet in some places, a maximum width of 14 kms. and 96km in length, the Vembanad Lake is India’s longest lake and home to mangrove forests, water birds and the famed karimeen or King Fish.

The Vembanad Lake lies at sea level and is separated from the Arabian Sea by a barrier island at Kochi, its northern extension. The primary inflows into the lake are from 5 rivers; the Periyar, Meenachil, Manimala, Pamba and Achenkovil. The lake borders the towns of Alleppey, Kochi and Kottayam.

The lake can be divided into two, the freshwater dominant southern zone and the salt water dominant northern zone. The zones are separated by a kilometre long bund with sluice gates, the Taneermukkam Bund, which controls the flow of mud and salt into the southern zone.
The Vembanad lake area called the Vembanad Lake – Kol wetland is renowned for its clam and sub fossil deposits and being one of the largest estuarine systems in India has been designated as a Ramsar site since November 2002.

The Vembanad – Kol wetland is home to resident and migratory birds and helps sustain about 20,000 waterfowls during the months between November and February. The endangered species of water birds found here are spot billed Pelican, oriental darter, water cock and the black billed tern.