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61-595: The Kerala backwaters are a network of brackish lagoons and canals lying parallel to the Arabian Sea of the Malabar coast of Kerala state in south-western India . It also includes interconnected lakes, rivers, and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km (560 mi) of waterways, and sometimes compared to bayous . The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both man made and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half

122-417: A grand view of the surroundings, including other boats, throughout the day when it is on the move. It is brought to a standstill at times of taking food and at night. After sunset, the boat crew provide burning coils to drive away mosquitoes. Ketuvallam are motorised but generally proceed at a slow speed for smooth travel. All Ketuvallam have a generator and most bedrooms are air-conditioned. At times, as per

183-530: A host to many migratory birds from various countries around the world. You can watch birds such as Kingfisher, Woodpecker, Egret, Bee-eater, Crow pheasant, and Paddy Birds. There is yet another rare chance to see the traditional Indian spice plants such as Pepper, Nutmeg and Cloves. ( [1] ) The first community tourism programme in the State will start functioning from the MunroeThuruthu islands. Coir making

244-629: A natural defense against hurricane and tsunami damage in particular. The Sundarbans and Bhitarkanika Mangroves are two of the large mangrove forests in the world, both on the coast of the Bay of Bengal . Some seas and lakes are brackish. The Baltic Sea is a brackish sea adjoining the North Sea . Originally the Eridanos river system prior to the Pleistocene , since then it has been flooded by

305-626: A new sport – the Vallam Kali (boat race). Each Chandan vallam accommodates about a hundred muscular oarsmen. Boat races are occasions of great excitement and entertainment with thousands gathered on the banks to watch and cheer. Most of these races are held in the Kuttanad Region The boat races starts with Champakulam Moolam Boat Race which is held on the Pamba River in the village Champakulam on Moolam day (according to

366-535: A species only found in deep water in the Baltic, while pike are confined to the less saline surface waters. The Caspian Sea is the world's largest lake and contains brackish water with a salinity about one-third that of normal seawater. The Caspian is famous for its peculiar animal fauna, including one of the few non-marine seals (the Caspian seal ) and the great sturgeons , a major source of caviar . Hudson Bay

427-554: Is a specific gravity of between 1.0004 and 1.0226. Thus, brackish covers a range of salinity regimes and is not considered a precisely defined condition. It is characteristic of many brackish surface waters that their salinity can vary considerably over space or time. Water with a salt concentration greater than 30‰ is considered saline . See the salinity table from the Misplaced Pages salinity article . Brackish water condition commonly occurs when fresh water meets seawater. In fact,

488-555: Is a brackish marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean , it remains brackish due its limited connections to the open ocean, very high levels freshwater surface runoff input from the large Hudson Bay drainage basin , and low rate of evaporation due to being completely covered in ice for over half the year. In the Black Sea the surface water is brackish with an average salinity of about 17–18 parts per thousand compared to 30 to 40 for

549-425: Is a home industry to almost all the village living people. It is very interesting to watch the coir making by the village ladies with the help of weaving Wheels. They make the coir ropes by hand. In addition to this, on the way, you can see the process of extracting coconut oil from the "copra" [dried coconut]. Among the routine traditional engagements, duck, poultry farm and prawn breeding are common in all houses. It

610-451: Is a series of wooden planks, long cut and carved, tied together using coir with coconut fibers stuffed in between. The kettuvallam is motorised and is steered in deep waters by means of oars. Long bamboo poles or 'punts' are used to propel in shallow areas. Bamboo beams sprouting off on the sides are used as footholds for the same. Bamboo is used for the framework of the roof and splits of bamboo are used for weaving mat for roofing. Basically

671-552: Is commonly used as cooling water for power generation and in a variety of ways in the mining, oil, and gas industries. Once desalinated it can also be used for agriculture, livestock, and municipal uses. Brackish water can be treated using reverse osmosis , electrodialysis , and other filtration processes. Kettuvallam Kettuvallam is a houseboat widely used in the Indian state of Kerala . These have thatched roof covers over wooden hulls. The traditional kettuvallam

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732-531: Is included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands . Chundan vallams or snake boats are narrowboats over 100 feet (30 m) long, with a raised prow that stands 10 feet (3.0 m) above water and resembles the hood of a snake. Traditionally these were used by local rulers to transport soldiers during waterfront wars. In modern times, it has spawned

793-590: Is located on the east coast of the lake. The major occupation in Kuttanadu is farming, with rice the most important agricultural product; it is the major rice producer in the state. This activity gives the area its moniker of "The Rice Bowl of Kerala". Large farming areas near Vembanad Lake were reclaimed from the lake. In 2013, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations formally declared

854-539: Is mainly used for promoting Kerala tourism. The history of such boats in Kerala goes back to Uru , a large Dhow -type wooden ship made by the carpenters in Beypore , south of Kozhikode port. T The teak was taken from Nilambur teak forests in earlier times, but now imported Malaysian teak is used. Boats in a variety of shapes and sizes have traditionally been the main means of transport of men and materials in

915-569: Is one of the freshwater lakes in Kerala. It is located in the city of Thiruvananthapuram , which is also Kerala's administrative headquarters. It is located nearer to Kovalam beach. Thiruvallam backwaters are just 6  km from Thiruvananthapuram , the state capital. Known for its canoe rides, Thiruvallam is becoming increasingly popular with tourists. Two rivers, the Killi and the Karamana , come together at Thiruvallam. Not far from Thiruvallam

976-470: Is provided in the centre of the linear axis with a top hung panel. Most of the latest designs have incorporated three bedrooms with toilets, a living space and kitchen. Of course, there are variations. Some have a lesser number of bedrooms but with a large living space and maybe a deck balcony at the roof level. Normally, the platforms that cantilever from the hull are used as balconies. Innovative changes have been made to accommodate modern fittings. For fixing

1037-470: Is the Veli Lagoon , where there are facilities for water sports, a waterfront park and a floating bridge. The Akkulam Boat club, which offers boating cruises on Akkulam Lake and a park for children, is also a popular tourist attraction near Thiruvallam. Wayanad is home to one of the state's freshwater lakes - Pookode Lake . It is also one of the 7 inland navigation backwaters in Kerala. Panamaram ,

1098-778: Is the largest among them. Biyyam backwater and Conolly Canal together empties into Arabian Sea near Puthuponnani promontory. Two prominent writers in the region are Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and Arundhati Roy. Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai , (1912–1999), the Padmabhusan and Jnanpith and Sahitya Akedemi award-winning writer, was born in Thakazhi village in Alappuzha district . He wrote in Malayalam. His novel Chemmeen has been translated into most Indian languages and several foreign languages. Arundhati Roy (born 1961)

1159-496: Is the largest among them. The Kerala backwaters host three of the world’s Ramsar Convention -listed wetlands : Ashtamudi Lake , Sasthamkotta Lake , and the Vembanad-Kol wetlands are noted as being wetlands of international importance . Kettuvallam (Kerala houseboats) in the backwaters are one of the prominent tourist attractions in Kerala. More than 2,000 of these ply the waterways. The Kerala government has classified

1220-607: Is the lowest lying of any in India and is one of the few places in the world where farming is carried around 1.2 to 3.0 metres (4 to 10 ft) below sea level. Four of Kerala's major rivers—the Pamba, Meenachil, Achankovil, and Manimala—flow into the region, and it is well known for its boat races. Vembanad Lake , the largest lake in Kerala is at the heart of Backwater tourism, with hundreds of kettuvallams plying it and with numerous resorts on its banks. The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

1281-488: Is very close to Pozhikara Devi Temple, which has breached in 2014 under the supervision of Water Resources Department (WRD), after a long gap of 14 years. Munroethuruth or Munroe Island is a place surrounded by Kallada River, Ashtamudi Lake and Sasthamkotta Lake in Kollam district , Munroe Island is a cluster of eight tiny islands, Blessed with a number of criss-cross canals and zigzag water channels, this Island plays

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1342-422: Is very low and the fish fauna consists predominantly of freshwater species such as roach , dace , carp , perch , and pike . The Thames Estuary becomes brackish between Battersea and Gravesend , and the diversity of freshwater fish species present is smaller, primarily roach and dace; euryhaline marine species such as flounder , European seabass , mullet , and smelt become much more common. Further east,

1403-596: The Canoly Canal and the Kallayi River are favourite haunts for boating and cruising. Korapuzha , the venue of the Korapuzha Jalotsavam, is a popular water sports destination. The coastal region of Malappuram contains the backwaters like Biyyam, Manoor, Veliyankode , Kodinhi, etc. Biyyam backwater which lies south of Bharathappuzha river (which is also the second longest river of Kerala)

1464-542: The Kerala backwaters since olden days. For the royalty these boats even became comfortable living quarters. A kettuvallam is about 100 feet in length and has a width of around 13 feet in the middle. The materials that go into the making are local and ecofriendly; bamboo poles, coconut fibre, ropes, bamboo mats, carpets etc. The main wood used is "Anjili" ( Artocarpus hirsuta ). There are houseboats with fully furnished single room, double room and triple rooms. The hull

1525-406: The crab-eating frog , Fejervarya cancrivora (formerly Rana cancrivora ). Mangroves represent important nesting sites for numerous birds groups such as herons, storks, spoonbills, ibises, kingfishers, shorebirds and seabirds. Although often plagued with mosquitoes and other insects that make them unpleasant for humans, mangrove swamps are very important buffer zones between land and sea, and are

1586-463: The 1.5  km Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the most prestigious. The Thazhathangadi boat race held every year on the Meenachil river, at Thazhathangadi, Kottayam is one of the oldest and most popular boat races in the state. In 1956, emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie visited Thazhathangadi during his imperial tour of India, and witnessed the boat race. Subsequently winners of the race were given

1647-587: The Ghats. Most of these rivers are navigable up to the midland region, in country crafts. Vembanad Lake is the longest backwater in Kerala, as well as the longest lake in India. The Kochi city, Kuttanad , Kumarakom , and Pathiramanal Island are located in this long backwater. The Vellayani Lake , the Pookode Lake , and the Sasthamcotta Lake are the freshwater lakes in Kerala. Sasthamcotta

1708-517: The Haile Selassie Ever rolling trophy. Other renowned boat races are: Indira Gandhi Boat Race, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race , Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali , Payippad Jalotsavam , Kallada Boat Race and Kumarakom Boat Race . Important in the ancient history of South India, Kuttanadu is a region spanning the Alappuzha and Kottayam districts; it is well known for its vast paddy fields and geographical peculiarities. The region

1769-588: The Kavvayi kayal. Adorned with many small islands, a relaxing boat ride in these waters is the best way to enjoy the mesmerizing greenery of the surroundings. Kasargod in north Kerala is a backwater destination, known for rice cultivation, coir processing and lovely landscape, it has the sea to the west and the Western Ghats to the north and east. Cruise options are Chandragiri and Valiyaparamba near Kavvayi Backwater . Chandragiri has situated 4  km to

1830-554: The Malayalam Era M.E) of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple. When Jawaharlal Nehru visited Kerala in 1952, four traditional Chundan valloms went to receive him. A snake boat race was organized for him. He was so impressed that when he went back to Delhi, he sent back a gleaming silver trophy for a boat race. Even today,

1891-484: The North Sea but still receives so much freshwater from the adjacent lands that the water is brackish. As seawater is denser, the water in the Baltic is stratified, with seawater at the bottom and freshwater at the top. Limited mixing occurs because of the lack of tides and storms, with the result that the fish fauna at the surface is freshwater in composition while that lower down is more marine. Cod are an example of

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1952-413: The backwaters. Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants, and bushes grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape. National Waterway 3 from Kollam to Kottappuram , covers a distance of 205 km (127 mi) and runs almost parallel to the coastline of southern Kerala facilitating both cargo movement and backwater tourism. Vembanad is the largest of

2013-457: The backwaters. The Kerala State Water Transport Department operates ferries for passengers as well as tourists. It is the cheapest mode of transport through the backwaters. Ashtamudi lake , which was a sleepy destination for years, has been transformed into a busy tourist destination with plush resorts around the Lake and the backwaters. The unregulated proliferation of motorised houseboats in

2074-502: The below-sea-level farming system in Kuttanad as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). Kollam (earlier known as Quilon) was one of the leading trade centres of the ancient world, eulogised by travellers such as Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo . It is also the starting point of the backwater waterways. The Ashtamudi Kayal , known as the gateway to the backwaters, covers about 30 per cent of Kollam. Sasthamcotta Kayal,

2135-527: The demand of customers, electricity is switched off and lanterns are provided to create a rural setting Beypore , located 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Kozhikode at the mouth of the Chaliyar River , is a famous fishing harbour, port and boatbuilding centre. Beypore has a 1,500-year tradition of boatbuilding. The skills of the local shipwrights and boatbuilders have widely sought after. Regular ferry services connect most locations on both banks of

2196-446: The houseboats have become floating cottages having a sleeping area, with western-style toilets, a dining area and a sit out on the deck. Most tourists spend the night on a houseboat. Food is cooked on board by the accompanying staff—mostly having a flavour of Kerala. The houseboats are of various patterns and can be hired as per the size of the family or visiting group. The living-dining room is usually open on at least three sides providing

2257-418: The hull and let out to the flowing water beneath. The use of bio-toilette is common nowadays. Thus the backwater canals are not polluted. The water for use is stored in a plastic tank kept at the top portion of the main body connecting to the kitchen and toilets. The pipes, tank and other synthetic materials are covered with coir or panambu to maintain the aesthetic quality of the eco-friendly materials. Kerala

2318-418: The kettuvallam was designed to transport cargo and as such many design changes had to be made to make it a tourist vehicle. The height of the roof was increased to get sufficient headroom. A plank was laid all through the length for ease of walking and comfortable seating, to reduce the disadvantages of the curved shape of the hull. Windows and other openings were provided for light, airflow and view. The entrance

2379-417: The lakes and backwaters has raised concerns regarding the adverse impact of pollution from diesel engines and outboard motors on the fragile ecosystem. Connected by artificial canals, the backwaters form an economical means of transport, and a large local trade is carried on by inland navigation. Fishing, along with fish curing, is an important industry. Kerala backwaters have been used for centuries by

2440-737: The lakes, covering an area of 2,033 km (785 sq mi). The lake has a large network of canals that meander through the region of Kuttanad . The important rivers from north to south are the Valapattanam 110 km (68 mi), Chaliyar 169 km (105 mi), Kadalundipuzha 130 km (81 mi), Bharathappuzha 209 km (130 mi), Chalakudy 130 km (81 mi), Periyar 244 km (152 mi), Pamba 176 km (109 mi), Achankovil 128 km (80 mi), Meenachil 75 km (47 mi), and Kalladayar 121 km (75 mi). Other than these, there are 35 more small rivers and rivulets flowing down from

2501-599: The large freshwater lake is 28.5  km from Kollam city. Islands are the eye-catching factors as well as the beauty of Lake Ashtamudi , Kollam . Most of these islands are potential tourism spots in the state . The Indian Railways also planning to develop one of the islands in Kollam for a tourism project. There are big as well as small islands which are inhabited and uninhabited by human beings. There are more than 15 islands in Ashtamudi Lake . The important islands in Kollam are: Paravur Estuaries lie near to

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2562-452: The 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. In the midst of this landscape there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and end points of backwater cruises. There are 34 backwaters in Kerala. Out of it, 27 are located either closer to Arabian Sea or parallel to

2623-547: The local people for transportation, fishing and agriculture. The region has supported the efforts of the local people to earn a livelihood. In more recent times, agricultural efforts have been strengthened with the reclamation of some backwater lands for rice growing, particularly in the Kuttanad area. Boat-making has been a traditional craft, so has been the coir industry. Kuttanad region is crisscrossed with waterways that run alongside extensive paddy fields, as well as fields of cassava , banana and yam . The crops are grown on

2684-494: The low-lying ground and irrigated with fresh water from the canal and waterways connected to Vembanad lake. Palakkad , the granary of Kerala, lies on the bank of Bharathappuzha river. Thrissur-Ponnani Kole Wetlands are fertile. Ponnani Kole Wetlands lie on the bank of Biyyam backwater. The area is similar to the dikes of the Netherlands, where land has been reclaimed from the sea and crops are grown. Vembanad Wetland

2745-467: The most extensive brackish water habitats worldwide are estuaries , where a river meets the sea. The River Thames flowing through London is a classic river estuary. The town of Teddington a few miles west of London marks the boundary between the tidal and non-tidal parts of the Thames, although it is still considered a freshwater river about as far east as Battersea insofar as the average salinity

2806-549: The oceans. The deep, anoxic water of the Black Sea originates from warm, salty water of the Mediterranean . Lake Texoma , a reservoir on the border between the U.S. states of Texas and Oklahoma , is a rare example of a brackish lake that is neither part of an endorheic basin nor a direct arm of the ocean, though its salinity is considerably lower than that of the other bodies of water mentioned here. The reservoir

2867-449: The palm-fringed waterways turning to be part and parcel of holidayers' itinerary, the traditional kettuvallam has emerged as the mascot of Kerala Tourism." More than 900 kettuvallams ply the backwaters and there are various routes which are popular among the tourists. Tour operators had been coming out with innovative options. The Kannur District Tourism Council has launched a 'Nadi Darshan' (river viewing) programme in association with

2928-431: The pens the farmed fish are kept in. Another important brackish water habitat is the mangrove swamp or mangal . Many, though not all, mangrove swamps fringe estuaries and lagoons where the salinity changes with each tide. Among the most specialised residents of mangrove forests are mudskippers , fish that forage for food on land, and archer fish , perch-like fish that "spit" at insects and other small animals living in

2989-500: The river. This type of ecological succession from freshwater to marine ecosystem is typical of river estuaries. River estuaries form important staging points during the migration of anadromous and catadromous fish species, such as salmon , shad and eels , giving them time to form social groups and to adjust to the changes in salinity. Salmon are anadromous, meaning they live in the sea but ascend rivers to spawn; eels are catadromous, living in rivers and streams, but returning to

3050-619: The rivulet which ultimately becomes Kabani River , originates from the Pookode lake. It is spread across an area of 8.5 hectares and with a maximum depth of 6.5 metres. Kavvayi backwater is a stunningly beautiful backwater destination tucked away near Payyannur in the district of Kannur . Kavvayi Backwaters form the biggest wetland in north Kerala . With its five rivers, the Kavvayi River , and its tributaries- Kankol , Vannathichal, Kuppithodu, and Kuniyan – flows together to form

3111-412: The salinity increases and the freshwater fish species are completely replaced by euryhaline marine ones, until the river reaches Gravesend, at which point conditions become fully marine and the fish fauna resembles that of the adjacent North Sea and includes both euryhaline and stenohaline marine species. A similar pattern of replacement can be observed with the aquatic plants and invertebrates living in

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3172-727: The sea to breed. Besides the species that migrate through estuaries, there are many other fish that use them as "nursery grounds" for spawning or as places young fish can feed and grow before moving elsewhere. Herring and plaice are two commercially important species that use the Thames Estuary for this purpose. Estuaries are also commonly used as fishing grounds and as places for fish farming or ranching. For example, Atlantic salmon farms are often located in estuaries, although this has caused controversy, because in doing so, fish farmers expose migrating wild fish to large numbers of external parasites such as sea lice that escape from

3233-660: The sea. The remaining 7 are inland navigation routes. The backwaters have a unique ecosystem: freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea. A barrage has been built near Thanneermukkom , so salt water from the sea is prevented from entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes. Many unique species of aquatic life including crabs , frogs and mudskippers , water birds such as terns , kingfishers , darters and cormorants , and animals such as otters and turtles live in and alongside

3294-502: The south-western coast of Kollam . The place is world-famous for its natural beauties, backwater locations, white-sand beaches and concentration of temples in every square kilometer. The peninsula of Paravur is one of the most visited in Kollam district . Both north and south tips of Paravur town have both peninsula and estuary. Pozhikara is north and Thekkumbhagam is south of Paravur . One more estuary mouth in Pozhikara , which

3355-400: The southeast of Kasargod town and takes tourists to the historic Chandragiri fort . Valiyaparamba is a scenic backwater stretch near Kasargod. Four rivers flow into the backwaters near Kasargod and there are many small islands along these backwater stretches, where birds can be seen. Kozhikode (also known as Calicut) has backwaters which are largely unexplored by tourist hordes. Elathur ,

3416-405: The toilet seats, shower tray and ceramic floor finish a concrete slab is laid at the floor level. These toilettes are made of steel cabinets with a network of steel meshes on which beneficial bacteria are grown with the help of a catalyst named actizyme. These bacteria feed upon human excreta and produce a harmless germ free colourless byproduct. The soil outlets of the toilet seats are taken through

3477-421: The tourist houseboats as platinum, gold, and silver. The Kettuvallam were traditionally used as grain barges, to transport the rice harvested in the fertile fields alongside the backwaters. Thatched roof covers over wooden hulls, 100 ft (30 m) in length, providing protected from the elements. At some point in time, the boats were used as living quarters by the royalty. Converted to accommodate tourists,

3538-420: The trees, knocking them into the water where they can be eaten. Like estuaries, mangrove swamps are extremely important breeding grounds for many fish, with species such as snappers , halfbeaks , and tarpon spawning or maturing among them. Besides fish, numerous other animals use mangroves, including such species as the saltwater crocodile , American crocodile , proboscis monkey , diamondback terrapin , and

3599-588: Was brought up in Ayemenem near Kottayam, and her Booker Prize –winning The God of Small Things is set in Kerala. A number of movies were filmed in the backwaters around Alleppey and other parts of the state. Some other major movies include 9°51′49″N 76°21′34″E  /  9.86348°N 76.3594°E  / 9.86348; 76.3594 Brackish Technically, brackish water contains between 0.5 and 30 grams of salt per litre—more often expressed as 0.5 to 30 parts per thousand (‰), which

3660-519: Was created by the damming of the Red River of the South , which (along with several of its tributaries) receives large amounts of salt from natural seepage from buried deposits in the upstream region. The salinity is high enough that striped bass , a fish normally found only in salt water, has self-sustaining populations in the lake. Brackish water is being used by humans in many different sectors. It

3721-401: Was placed among the '50 destinations of a lifetime' by National Geographic Traveler in a special collectors' issue released just before the turn of the millennium. The Hindu wrote, "A cruise along the mirror-still lagoons, picture-book lakeside, palm-fringed canals and shimmering rivulets of 'God's Own Country' is the most enchanting holidaying experience in the country. With a cruise along

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