Vynthala Lake (Malayalam: വൈന്തല തടാകം) is a natural oxbow lake found in Vynthala, near Mala, Thrissur DistrictofKerala.[1]
| Vynthala Lake | |
|---|---|
| Oxbow Lake (Thadakam) of Kanichan Thura | |
  Vynthala Lake Show map of Kerala  Vynthala Lake Show map of India | |
| Location | Vynthala, Thrissur District, Kerala |
| Coordinates | 10°15′38″N 76°17′40″E / 10.26056°N 76.29444°E / 10.26056; 76.29444 |
| Type | oxbow lake |
| Basin countries | India |
| Surface area | 7 ha (17 acres) |
| Surface elevation | 1,800 ft (549 m) |
| Settlements | Mala |
Lake is also called Oxbow Lake (Thadakam), as it was formed from a "cutoff" of the Chalakudy River which flows nearby.[2][3] The lake is considered to be the only one naturally formed Oxbow lake in whole of South India.[4]
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).[5]