Rajsamand Lake
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Rajsamand Lake (also known as:Rajsamudra Lake) is Asia's second-largest artificial lake and is situated near Rajsamand town in Indian state of Rajasthan . Built in the 17th Century, it is approximately 1.75 miles wide, 4 miles long, and 60 feet deep. The lake was built across the Gomati, Kelwa, and Tali Rivers, with a catchment area of approximately 508 square kilometers.
At its southern end, there is a 1,100-foot-long white-stone embankment 40 feet in height, containing immense marble steps leading down to the water's edge.
The lake was built between 1662 and 1676 by the Rana Raj Singh, ruler of Mewar, as a relief effort to provide jobs to the victims of a widespread drought and famine. The lake also provided irrigation for the arable land in the vicinity that had been ravaged by drought.
In 1676, the construction of a dam began in order to fill the lake to capacity from the three rivers. The level of the lake has varied over time. In times of severe drought, it disappears entirely, as happened in 2000.
Rajamand Lake is the location of the Rajprashasti, the longest stone inscription in the world.
During the British Era, the lake was used as a seabase for airplanes.
