Vynthala Lake
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox lake
| name = Vynthala Lake
| other_name = Oxbow Lake (Thadakam) of Kanichan Thura
| image =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = Kerala#India
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Vynthala lake within Kerala
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Vynthala, Thrissur District, Kerala
| coordinates = {{WikidataCoord|display=it}}
| type = oxbow lake
| inflow =
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = India
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|7|ha|abbr=on}}
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation = {{convert|1800|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
| islands =
| cities = Mala
}}
Vynthala Lake (Malayalam: വൈന്തല തടാകം) is a natural oxbow lake found in Vynthala, near Mala, Thrissur District of Kerala.[http://wikimapia.org/1650463/Oxbow-Lake-Thadakam-of-Kanichan-Thura Oxbow Lake (Thadakam) of Kanichan Thura] Wikimapia
Geography
Lake is also called Oxbow Lake (Thadakam), as it was formed from a "cutoff" of the Chalakudy River which flows nearby.{{cite web
|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Oxbow-lake-in-Chalakudy-to-receive-heritage-status/articleshow/20806038.cms
|title=Oxbow lake in Chalakudy to receive heritage status
|publisher=Times of India
|accessdate=2014-07-05}}{{cite web
|url=http://www.mala.co.in/oxbow-lake-vynthala-mala-thrissur
|title=Oxbow Lake Vynthala Mala Thrissur
|publisher=Mala.com
|accessdate=2014-07-05}} The lake is considered to be the only one naturally formed Oxbow lake in whole of South India.{{cite web
|url=http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKRKO/2013/06/28&PageLabel=8&EntityId=Ar00803&ViewMode=HTML
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714230437/http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIKRKO/2013/06/28&PageLabel=8&EntityId=Ar00803&ViewMode=HTML
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=14 July 2014
|title=Oxbow lake in Chalakudy to receive heritage status
|publisher=Times of India
|accessdate=2014-07-05}}
History
The oxbow lake at Vynthala was identified in 1998 by a team of scientists led by Sunny George. Earlier the lake had a length of 2 kilometres, but now only about 200 meters remain as the rest of the area has been reclaimed. The total area of the lake is around 7 hectares. National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) are preparing a report to declare the lake as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).{{cite web
|url=http://www.today.in/Oxbow-lake-in-Chalakudy-to-receive-heritage-status
|title=Oxbow lake in Chalakudy to receive heritage status
|publisher=Today.in
|accessdate=2014-07-05}}