Lagoons and Backwaters

India’s coastline is long and, in several states, deeply indented. This irregular shape creates natural coastal features that are distinct from rivers and lakes. Two such features are lagoons and backwaters.

Lagoons are shallow bodies of water separated from the open sea by a barrier, such as a sandbar or a coral reef. They form when a coastal spit or bar cuts off a part of the sea, leaving a stretch of salt or brackish water behind. Lagoons are common along the eastern coast of India, especially in the deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri rivers. The Chilika Lake in Odisha and the Pulicat Lake on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are well-known examples of lagoons.

Backwaters are a different kind of coastal water body. They form where the sea water intrudes into the mouths of rivers during high tide, creating a network of shallow, brackish-water channels, lakes, and inlets that run parallel to the coast. The most famous backwaters in India are in Kerala, along the Malabar Coast. The Vembanad Lake and the Ashtamudi Lake are prominent backwater systems in Kerala. These backwaters are not just geographical features; they support local livelihoods through fishing, tourism, and inland navigation. …