9 July, 2023 IELTS Speaking Part 2,3 Rivers/Lakes Sample Answer

These questions were reported by IELTS test takers from a test conducted in India.

Part 2:

Talk about an important lake/river in your country. Please tell me

• Where is it located?
• How big/long is it?
• What does it look like?
• Explain why it is important.

Answer:

Water bodies are an integral part of India's landscape and I am going to talk about the Dal lake, which is located in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

This lake is also known as “The Lake of Flowers” and is a significant tourist attraction in the country.

It covers an area of almost 18 square kilometers and is a part of a natural wetland that includes floating gardens.

Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the shoreline of the Dal is encompassed by Mughal Era gardens, hotels, houseboats, and parks.

One major attraction of the Dal lake is the houseboats which are also known as Shikaras or the Gondolas of Kashmir. They are made of wood and painted with attractive colors. They are used for various purposes such as transporting goods and riding tourists across the lake, helping them to enjoy the view of the snow-capped peaks as they have comfortable seating arrangements. In addition, these boats are also used for aquatic vegetation and fishing.

This lake is an extremely popular tourist attraction and is also known as a summer resort that offers an array of water sports like swimming, boating, and so on. Snow skiing is also popular during the winter when the lake is frozen.

It is a vital part of this beautiful destination and also a major tourist attraction contributing to the economy. There are other places worth visiting around the lake such as a temple, a shrine, and a cemetery which are of historical importance.

People around the world include this place in their bucket list as it is one of the most beautiful places in India and has gained popularity over the decades. As a result, it is a source of employment as well for the people of Kashmir.

Part 3

• How can rivers/lakes benefit local people?

As I have observed, water bodies like rivers or lakes are indispensable as they provide a variety of facilities like tourism, transportation, and other recreational activities such as swimming, and boating. Resultantly, this provides an income source to the state or country and generates employment too. To illustrate, the Hooghly River in West Bengal is one of the primary modes of transportation as it helps people to commute and cover distances using motor boats and it also provides recreational activities such as boat cruises during the holiday season where the visitors can enjoy themselves while having a good view of the river.

• Do you think rivers/lakes attract tourists?

Definitely, they do, as people always have the urge to visit these locations and recharge their souls with natural beauty. The governments have been working hard to introduce various types of recreational options such as boating and the establishment of restaurants and cafes. Moreover, the adventure sports carried out are under the guidance of experts who are specially trained for these jobs. Like in Rishikesh, various water sports are offered like kayaking and boating that give an enthralling experience. Similarly, the confluence of three rivers which are the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati in Allahabad, popularly known as Triveni Sangam holds a significant position in Hindu mythology and is frequented by tourists from all over the globe.

• How do rivers/lakes affect local tourism?

Rivers and lakes always make for good spots for people to visit and relax and thus these are highly beneficial to enhance local tourism. A walk by the river or a picnic on a Sunday during winter is much loved by the people. Furthermore, many restaurants and cafes are located by riversides which is the main attraction for customers, thus bringing business to these outlets.

• Are rivers/lakes suitable for transportation? Why?

Yes of course, as rivers connect several states and make way for transportation through bridges or underwater tunnels. Not only that, the integration of railways is also possible through lakes and rivers. Also, goods across the states are transported from one place to another using these water bodies. There are ample examples of such places where bridges constructed across rivers offer good options for people to move around.