Tampara Lake (lying between 84° 58’ 23” to 85° 1’ 32” East longitudes and 19° 19’ 33” to 19° 21’ 58” North latitudes) is among the most prominent freshwater lakes in the State of Odisha situated near Chatrapur town in Ganjam district. The wetland lies within the Rushikulya river
basin. In the year 1766 English East India Company took possession of Ganjam district from the French during which explosives were used near Rushikulya leading to a depression near the river. The depression on the ground gradually filled with rainwater from catchment flow and
was called “Tamp” by the British and subsequently termed “Tampra” by the locals. A narrow channel connecting Rushikulya river to Tampara lake was dredged later on for the transportation of goods which eventually helped to provide flood water of Rushikulya river to the wetland.
Tampara lake spreads across 300 ha with a length of 5.8 km and a width of 6.7 m. The wetland supports at least 60 species of birds, 46 species of fishes, at least 48 species of phytoplanktons, and more than seven species of terrestrial plants and macrophytes. The wetland is an
important habitat for vulnerable species such as Cyprinus carpio, common pochard (Aythya ferina), and river tern (Sterna aurantia). With an estimated average fish yield of 12 tonnes per year, the wetland is an important source of livelihood for the local communities. Along with fishes
the wetland also provides provisioning services like water for agriculture, and domestic use and is a well-known tourism and recreation site.