Question

Which is the largest coastal lagoon in India?
A.Chilika lake
B.Wular lake
C.Dal lake
D.Loktak lake

Answer 1

Hint:On the eastern coast of India, at the mouth of the Daya River, this lagoon stretched over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha state, flowing into the Bay of Bengal.

Complete answer:
Chilika Lake is a lagoon with brackish water and India's first coastal lagoon and, after the New Caledonian barrier reef, the world's largest brackish water lagoon. It is the highest wintering ground on the Indian sub-continent for migratory birds. The lake is home to a variety of species of plants and animals that are endangered. The lake is an ecosystem of significant fishing opportunities. It serves more than 150,000 fishermen living in 132 coastal and island villages.
In the peak migratory season, the lagoon attracts over 160 species of birds. Birds come here from as far as the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, the Aral Sea and other distant areas of Russia, Kazakhstan's Kyrgyz steppes, Central and Southeast Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas. These birds fly great distances; migratory birds are expected to follow much longer routes to reach Chilika Lake than straight lines, probably up to 12,000 km.
In 1981, under the Ramsar Convention, Chilika Lake was designated as the first Indian wetland of international significance. 14 types of raptors are still located in the lagoon. They have also published around 152 rare and vulnerable Irrawaddy dolphins. Plus, some 37 species of reptiles and amphibians are supported by the lagoon.
In the brackish waters of the Chilika Lagoon, microalgae, aquatic seaweed, sea grass, fish and crab also thrive. In recent years, the regeneration of seagrass beds in particular is a supportive development that can inevitably contribute to the re-colonization of dugongs at risk.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note:With its rich fishing facilities, the highly active Chilika Lagoon eco-system sustains the livelihoods of many fishermen living in and around the lagoon. The lagoon's water distribution area varies between 1165 and 906 km^2$ during the monsoon and summer, respectively. The lagoon is connected by a 32 km long, narrow outer channel to the Bay of Bengal, near the village of Motto. More recently, the CDA has opened a new mouth that has given the lagoon a new lease on life.