The lagoons, lakes, canals and rivers are lined up with dense tropical vegetation on either side. It is a breathtaking bout to experience a solitary and calm glide through this network of waterways. The backwaters form a specially attractive and economically valuable feature of Kerala.They include lakes and ocean inlets which stretch irregularly along the coast. The biggest backwater is the Vembabad lake, some 200 sq kilometers in area, which opens out into the Arabian Sea at Cochin port. The Periyar, Pamba, Manimala, Achenkovil, Meenachil and Moovattupuzha rivers drain into this lake. Veli, Kadhinamkulam, Anjengo (Anju Thengu), Edava, Nadayara, Paravoor, Ashtamudi (in Kollam Dist.) Kayamkulam, Kodungallur (in Trissur Dist) and Chetuva are some of the other places where you may go for backwater cruising. The backwaters of Kerala stretch over 1900 Kilometers, providing drinking water and irrigation facilities.