Map of Backwaters

The Kerala Backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) of Kerala state in southern India. The network includes five large lakes (including Ashtamudi and Vembanad) linked by 1500 km of canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually the entire length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. Brackish water is water that is saltier than fresh water, but not as salty as sea water. ... The Arabian Sea is the part of the Indian Ocean between the Arabian Peninsula and India. ... Bekal Fort Beach Malabar is a region along the southwest coast of the Indian peninsula, which forms the northern part of present-day Kerala state. ... Kerala (or Keralam) (കേരളം) is a state in South India, occupying a narrow strip of Indias southwestern coast. ... South India is a geographic and linguistic-cultural region of India. ... In geography, a bar is a linear shoaling landform feature within a body of water. ... The Western Ghats or Sahyadri mountains run along the western edge of Indias Deccan Plateau, and separate the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. ...

Vembanad is the largest of the lakes, covering an area of 200 sq km, and bordered by Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts. The port of Kochi (Cochin) is located at the lake's outlet to the Arabian Sea. Ashtamudi Lake is located in Kollam District, and the town of Kollam (Quilon) lies at its outlet. Alappuzha is a district of the state of Kerala in India. ... Kottayam is one of the 14 districts (pop. ... Ernakulam is a city adjoining to old Kochi city. ... Mattancherry Palace - temple courtyard Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) is the largest (pop. ... Kollam district in Kerala Kollam, formerly known as Quilon, is a city in Kerala which is also the headquarters of a district by the same name. ...

Connected by artificial canals, the backwaters form an economical means of transit, and a large local trade is carried on by inland navigation. Fishing and fishcuring is an important industry.