Chennai’s geography is fundamentally shaped by its relationship to the Bay of Bengal and its inland water bodies.
* **Rivers**: The city is intersected by three main rivers: the Cooum in the center, the Adyar in the south, and the Kosasthalaiyar in the north. * **Canals**: The historic Buckingham Canal, built during British rule, runs parallel to the Coromandel Coast. * **Lakes & Reservoirs**: Chembarambakkam Lake, Puzhal Lake, and Red Hills Lake serve as vital primary drinking water reservoirs for the city. * **Wetlands**: The Pallikaranai marshland is a critical ecological zone that hosts numerous species of migratory birds.
