The Great Backwaters comprises an intricate network of lakes, canals, estuaries and deltas of forty-four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The important stretch of this unique water world is the 168 km expanse from Kollam to Kottapuram, declared as a National Waterway. The Great Backwaters is a 900 km long water world spread across Kerala. This fascinating geographical feature was formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats mountain range. What makes the backwaters unique is its flora and fauna, its people and their lifestyle as well as their customs and traditions.
