3.

Surinsar-Mansar Lakes, J&K

Ramsar Sites in India
 A holy site, sharing the legend of Lake
Mansarovar. God Sheshnag shrine.
 Gujjar and Backarwals tribes.
 The lake joins an important road that directly
links Pathankot to Udhampur. (Udhampur is a
Town of strategic importance, on NH 1A).

4. Hokera Wetland, J&K

 Natural perennial wetland, contiguous to the
Jhelum basin.
 White-eyed Pochard (EN)
 Marshy vegetation complexes.

5. Pong Dam Lake, HP

 A water storage reservoir on Beas River in low
foothills of the Himalayas.
 Location on the trans-Himalayan flyway, a lot of
migratory birds.
 Monsoonal flood prevention, electricity
1. Wular Lake, J&K
generation, irrigation water.
 The largest freshwater lake in India, One of the  Important fishing site.
largest fresh water lakes in Asia.
6. Chandra Taal, HP
 The lake basin was formed by tectonic activity. It
 A high-altitude lake on the upper Chandra valley
is fed by the Jhelum River.
flowing to the Chandra river, Samudra Tapu
 Extensive marshes of emergent and floating
plateau. Western Himalayas.
vegetation, particularly water chestnut.
 Near the Kunzam pass joining the Himalayan and
 Supports an important fishing industry.
Pir Panchal ranges.
 The lake's size varies seasonally from 30 to 260
 Spiti Forest; covered by degraded grasslands.
square kilometers.
 Snow Leopard
 Famous for boating, water sports and water ski.
7. Renuka Lake, HP
2. Tsomoriri, J&K
 A natural wetland with freshwater springs and
 A freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,500 m
karst formations.
above sea level. It is an endorheic lake i.e. no
 Massive plantation area in the catchment.
outflow.
 High religious significance, named after the
 The barley fields at Korzok are the highest
mother of Hindu sage Parshuram.
cultivated land in the world.
 Ancient trade routes and now major trekking 8. Harike Wetlands, Punjab
routes pass the site.  A shallow water reservoir at the confluence of

 Black-necked cranes, Snow leopard, Tibetan wolf, Beas and Sutlej rivers.

Tibatean Ass, Goa antelope.  Floating vegetation.

 Endemic species: Great Tibetan Sheep (Argali)  Anatidae (ducks, geese, swans, etc.) during
and Tibetan Wild Ass. migration.

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9. Kanjli Wetland, PN
 Kali Bein permanent stream.
 Crucial role in agriculture.
 invasive water hyacinth
 Associated with the first guru of Sikhs, Guru
Nanak.
10. Ropar, PN
 A man-made wetland of lake and Sutlej River.
 Important breeding place for Smooth Indian Otter,
Sambar, reptiles, Indian Pangolin.
 Deforested local hills leading to siltation.
 Industrialization causing an inflow of pollutants.
 Fisheries are economically significant.
11. Keoladeo National Park, RJ
 Former name: Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.
 Under Montreux Record too.
 A World Heritage Site.
 Ten artificial and seasonal lagoons.
 The vegetation is a mosaic of scrub and open
grassland.
 Invasive growth of grass Paspalum distichum.
 Siberian crane.
12. Sambhar Salt Lake, RJ
 India's largest inland salt-lake.
 A key wintering area for flamingos and other
migratorty birds from northern Asia.
 The specialized algae and bacteria growing in the
lake provide striking water colours and support
the lake ecology. It, in turn, sustains the migrating
waterfowl.
 Other wildlife in the nearby forests, where Nilgai
move freely along with deer and foxes.
13. Upper Ganga River, UP
 A shallow river stretch.
 Habitat for Ganges River Dolphin, Gharial,
Crocodile etc.
 Some plants have high medicinal values
 Hindu religious importance.
 Threats: sewage discharge, agricultural runoff,
and intensive fishing.
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14. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, GJ
 Added Latest 2012
 Natural freshwater lake (a relict sea)
 Largest natural wetland in the Thar Desert
Biogeographic Province.
 Salinity and depth vary depending on rainfall.
 Source of drinking water and irrigation.
 Catla and Rohu fishes; migratory birds:
flamingoes, white storks, brahminy ducks and
herons.
 Indian Wild Ass uses this area in the dry season.
 Bharwad tribe.
15. Bhoj Wetland, Bhopal
 It is a manmade reservoir system of two lakes; the
Bhojtal and the Lower Lake.
 The Upper Lake acts as the lifeline of the city
 White storks, black-necked storks, spoonbills,
 Sarus cranes: The largest bird of India, majestic
flight and lifetime pairing.
16. Deepor Beel, Assam
 Permanent freshwater lake in a former channel of
Brahmaputra.
 Spotbilled Pelican, Lesser and Greater Adjutant
Stork.
 Baer's Pochard.
 Ornamental fish, medicinal plants etc.
 Pollution from pesticides and fertilizers.
17. Loktak Lake, Manipur
 Under Montreux Record too.
 Largest freshwater lake in the north-east.
 Famous for Phumdis (heterogeneous mass of
vegetation, soil, and organic matters at various
stages of decomposition) floating over it.
 Keibul Lamjao: only floating national park in
world.
 "Sangai" or Manipur brow-antlered deer.
18. Rudrasagar Lake, Tripura
 Natural sedimentation reservoir, receives flow
from three perennial streams, or Cherra.
 Baer's Pochard.
Ramsar Sites 2
19. East Calcutta Wetlands 24. Vembanad-Kol Wetland, KL
 Treated water for pisciculture and agriculture.  Aka Punnamada Lake and Kochi Lake.
 Fresh vegetables, table fish.  Longest lake in India, Largest lake of Kerala.
 Nehru Trophy Boat Race, known for house boats.
20. Bhitarkanika Mangroves, Orissa
 River mouths of Pamba-Achenkovil rivers in
 The delta of the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers.
Vembanad.
 Salt water crocodiles and Olive ridley sea turtle.
 Kuttanad is unique wetland topography below sea
21. Chilka Lake, Orissa
level. It is famous for exotic fish varieties and
 Earlier under Montreux Record.
Paddy fields.
 Brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri,
 Kochi Port is built around Willingdon and
Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha
Vallarpadam islands.
 Mouth of the Daya River. Nalban Island is
 High levels of pollution.
located here.
25. Sasthamkotta Lake, KL
 Largest coastal lagoon in India and the second
 Largest freshwater lake in Kerala.
largest lagoon in the world.
 River Kallada had a unique replenishing system
 Irrawaddy dolphin is the flagship species.
through a bar of paddy field, which has
 Home to migratory birds, Dugong and Blackbuck.
disappeared due to indiscriminate mining.
22. Kolleru Lake, Andhra Pradesh  The lake is now depleting due to destruction of
 One of the largest freshwater lakes in India. replenishing mechanism.
 Between Krishna and Godavari deltas. Fed
26. Ashtamudi Lake or Kayal, KL
directly by seasonal streams Budameru and
 Natural backwater, river Kallada and Pallichal
Tammileru.
drains into it. Forms an estuary.
 Declared as a wildlife sanctuary under India's
 National Waterway 3 passes through it.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
 Famous fishing harbour in Kerala. Karimeen and
 Siberian crane, ibis, and painted storks
kanambu: Tastiest backwater fish. Chinese
 Vaddi Community.
fishing nets cheena vala.
23. Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, TN  Coconut groves and palm trees.
 At the apex of the Cauvery River delta.  Kollam: important historic port city, right bank of
 Vedaranyam forests: One of the last remnants of the lake.
dry evergreen forests.  First Marine Stewardship Council certified
 Mangrove forests. fishery in India: for sustainable clam fishing.
 Endemic Indian blackbuck
 Winter Migrants: Spoon Billed Sandpiper,
Greater Flamingos.
 Threats: Agricultural & Shrimp farm runoff
leads to high concentration of DDT & HCH.

www.synopsisias.in Ramsar Sites 3