IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

Chilika lake                              

14th March, 2022 Environment

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Context: The Odisha government has proposed to ban movement of mechanised fishing boats on the banks of Chilika lake — an important bird area (IBA).

  • The Orissa High Court concurred with the proposal by directing that the agreed decisions will be strictly implemented till further orders.

About:

  • Chilika Lake is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha.
  • Chilika Lake is a shallow bar-built estuary with large areas of mudflats.
  • Location: It is located at the mouth of the Daya River,flowing into the Bay of Bengal, covering an area of over 1,100 km2.

 

Climate:

  • tropical monsoon climate prevails over the drainage basin area of the lake.
  • The lake experiences South–west and North-east monsoons

 

Trivia:

  • It is the biggest lake of India. This lake is the largest coastal lagoon in Indiaand the largest brackish water lagoon in the world after The New Caledonian barrier reef.
  • Recognition:It has been listed as a tentative UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the largest salt water lake in India.
  • It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent.
  • Birds from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea and other remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Kazakhstan, Central and southeast Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come here.
  • In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/chilika-lake-area-in-odisha-to-be-off-limits-for-motorboats/article65219917.ece