Ambattur Lake, lake in India

Ambattur Lake, also called Ambattur Aeri, is a rain-fed reservoir west of the Ambattur area of Chennai. It once covered about 650 acres and has since shrunk to roughly half that. It is one of a chain of three water bodies with Korattur Lake and Madhavaram Lake, in which surplus water from one is carried to another, and it helps meet Chennai's drinking water needs after Poondi and Chembarambakkam.

The lake has been part of Chennai's water management system since colonial times, helping supply the city with water. Over the decades, urban expansion brought pollution and encroachment, which altered the water body's health and function.

Ambattur Lake forms a chain of three water bodies with Korattur and Madhavaram lakes, surplus water passing from one to the next. Birdwatchers look for the common tailorbird and purple-rumped sunbird, and in season the migratory Asian openbill stork, among roughly 40 species counted by the Care Earth Trust.

The lake is surrounded by semi-rural residential areas and accessed by a walking track along the edge. The best time to visit is after the monsoon season when water levels are highest and bird activity is most noticeable.

The lake is home to about 40 different bird species, including migratory birds like the Asian openbill stork that travel from distant regions. This bird diversity makes it an important refuge for migrating species in Chennai.