Chilika Lake
| Chilika | |
|---|---|
Birds eyeview of Chilika Lake | |
| Location | Odisha |
| Coordinates | 19°43′N 85°19′E / 19.717°N 85.317°E |
| Lake type | Brackish, lagoon |
| Primary inflows | 52 streams including the Bhargavi, Daya, Makra, Malaguni and Luna rivers |
| Primary outflows | Old mouth at Arakhakuda, new mouth at Satpada to Bay of Bengal |
| Catchment area | 3,560 km2 (1,370 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | India |
| Max. length | 64.3 km (40.0 mi) |
| Surface area | min.: 900 km2 (347 sq mi) max.: 1,165 km2 (450 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 4.2 m (13.8 ft) |
| Water volume | 4 km3 (3,200,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Surface elevation | 0 – 2 m (6.6 ft) |
| Islands | 223 km2 (86 sq mi): Badakuda, Breakfast, Honeymoon, Kalijai Island, Birds Island, Kanthapantha, Krushnaprasada (Old Parikuda), Nalabana, Nuapara, Somolo and Sanakuda. |
| Settlements | Balugaon, Satpada, Parikud, Rambha |
| References | |
| Designated | 1 October 1981 |
| Reference no. | 229 |
Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water lagoon with estuarine character that sprawls along the east coast of Indian sub-continent in Asia and second largest coastal lagoon in the world, covering an area of over 1,100 square kilometres (420 sq mi). It is spread over the Puri, Khordha and Ganjam districts of Odisha state on the east coast of India, at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
It has been listed as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site. Its salinity varies by region, from freshwater where rivers flow in, to oceanic salinity levels due to tidal influx.