| Ambattur aeri | |
|---|---|
 Ambattur Lake | |
  Ambattur aeri | |
| Location | Ambattur,Chennai,Tamil Nadu,India |
| Coordinates | 13°06′N80°08′E / 13.10°N 80.14°E /13.10; 80.14 |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | India |
| Surface area | 440 acres (180 ha) (water spread area)[1] |
| Settlements | Chennai |
Ambattur aeri, or Ambattur lake, is a rain-fed reservoir which reaches top levels during themonsoon 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 theChennai city after Poondi andChembarambakkam Lake.
Ambattur Lake is one of a chain of three water bodies, includingKorattur Lake andMadhavaram Lake, where surplus water from one is transported to another.[2]
This lake is polluted chiefly by sewage waste in the Ayapakkam area.[citation needed]
Ambattur lake, together with theKorattur lake and theRetteri lake, is an important wildlife refuge in northern and western parts ofChennai. According to the Care Earth Trust, a city-based biodiversity research organisation, nearly 40 bird species are present in these lakes, includingcommon tailorbird, thepurple-rumped sunbird, and the migratoryAsian openbill stork.[3]
