It is the first ever scientific account of the lakes of the Indian subcontinent written by prominent researchers and university teachers associated with this field. The book encompasses the genesis of the lake basins of the Himalayas, sub-Himalayas and the Indo-Gangetic plain and vividly portrays the ecological behaviour of the lakes of certain limnologically distinct regions, viz., Kashmir, Kumaun and the coastal plains. The articles on the water chemistry, microbes, phytoplankton, algal mats, zooplankton, macrophytes, periphyton and fish are comprehensive and lucid and are meticulously edited to achieve uniformity in presentation and treatment of subject. Articles on such scantily investigated aspects as production and eutrophication have also been covered, which will, hopefully, serve as the basis and set guidelines for further researches. The last chapter designated as 'Indices' contains basic facts and figures concerned with the water economy of India; certain limnological generalizations acclaimed the world over; and, an inventory of important lakes of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, with brief notes on their geographical position, physiographical dimensions and present state of ecological investigations. It is hoped that this compilation will serve as a manual of limnological researches in India and will be useful to students, researchers and planners alike.