The city of Bangalore is in the middle of southern India. Without nearby rivers, Bangalore built hundreds of manmade lakes in the sixteenth centrury to help provide water for the city. The lakes served needs like fishing, irrigation, drinking water and washing. By 1924, there were about 260 lakes in Bangalore!
The lakes of Bangalore had amazing wildlife like otters, geese, herons, kingfisher birds and other animals. Early residents of Bangalore used wells to collect groundwater for daily use. The lakes helped to recharge the groundwater supplies. Thanks to the abundance of water in Bangalore, many people have been able to thrive for hundreds of years in the city!
As Bangalore has grown as a city to a population of over eight million, the water supply must support the population. The lakes of Bangalore supply as much as 150 million liters per day of water!
