The largest lake in Asia and the heart of the system of waterways known as the Kerala Backwaters. Formed while the Arabian Sea withdrew a 1000 years back.

The Lake is more properly a lagoon as it is fed from both the sea and the fresh water rivers so that the water is salt free till bund. The largets freshwater lake in Kerala.

The lake stretches from Cochin to Alappuzha with Kumarakom on the other side where is then forms rice paddies and navigated canals. By boat you can navigate all the way from Cochin to Kollam using the backwaters.