Ambattur aeri, or Ambattur lake, is a rain-fed reservoir which reaches top levels during the

monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...

seasons. In November 2008, incessant monsoon rain filled the lake and encroachments on the north and south banks of the lake were demolished. It also caters to the drinking water needs of the

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

city after Poondi and

Chembarambakkam Lake Chembarambakkam lake is a lake located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, about 25 km from Chennai. It is one of the two rain-fed reservoirs from where water is drawn for supply to Chennai City, the other one being the Puzhal Lake. The Adyar ...

. Ambattur aeri is one of a chain of three water bodies, including the Korattur aeri and the Madhavaram aeri, where surplus water from one is transported to another. Ambattur lake at dry season

Biodiversity

Ambattur lake, together with the

Korattur lake Korattur Aeri, or Korattur Lake, also known as Vembu Pasumai Thittu, is a lake spread over 990 acres in Korattur, Chennai, India. It is located to the north of the Chennai–Arakkonam railway line. It is one of the largest lakes in the western ...

and the

Retteri lake Rettai Eri, locally known as Retteri, is a lake in the Kolathur area of Chennai, India which is visible from the 100 ft road. Redhills road Junction is also named as Retteri Junction. The Government has planned to construct a flyover at ...

, is an important wildlife refuge in northern and western parts of

. According to the Care Earth Trust, a city-based biodiversity research organisation, nearly 40 bird species are present in these lakes, including

common tailorbird The common tailorbird (''Orthotomus sutorius'') is a songbird found across tropical Asia. Popular for its nest made of leaves "sewn" together and immortalized by Rudyard Kipling as ''Darzee'' in his ''Jungle Book'', it is a common resident in ur ...

, the purple-rumped sunbird, and the migratory

Asian openbill stork The Asian openbill or Asian openbill stork (''Anastomus oscitans'') is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. This distinctive stork is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is greyish or white with glossy b ...

References

Lakes of Chennai Reservoirs in Tamil Nadu {{Chennai-geo-stub

Biodiversity

See also

References