Question

Which of the following lakes is a saltwater lake?
a. Sambhar
b. Dal
c. Wular
d. Gobind Sagar

Answer 1

Hint: It is the largest lake in India, situated in east-central Rajasthan state, west of Jaipur. It represents the depression of the Aravalli Range. The soluble salt compounds collected in the lake’s underlying silt have accumulated by the evaporation of water brought down by annual lake flooding.

Complete Answer:
a. Sambhar lake in Rajasthan is the largest saltwater lake in India. This saline lake has a length of 35.5 km and a breadth varying between 3 km and 11 km. It is located in the districts of Nagaur and Jaipur and it also borders the Ajmer district.

b. The circumference of the lake is 96 km and it is surrounded by the Aravalli hills. The lake's water depth ranges from 60 cm in the dry season to around 3 m after the monsoons.

c. Sambhar was designated as a Ramsar site in the year 1990. Several migrating birds visit the lake during the winter. Along with Phulera and Deedwana, the wetland is the most important wintering area in India outside the Rann of Kachh.

d. Sambhar Lake produces tonnes of salt each year, making Rajasthan one of the top three salt-producing states in India.

e. The traditional process of salt extraction has almost become obsolete. Contractors try to extract more and more salt in a small period. The traditional process is monsoon dependent. Sambhar Lake takes water from four rivers namely the Mendha, the Rupangarh, the Kharian and the Khandel.

Thus, the correct option is (A).

Note:The Sambhar Lake has been recently declared as a Ramsar Site (recognized wetland of worldwide significance) because the wetland has a flourishing avifauna habitat. During the cold season, a huge number of purple flamingos and several different birds migrate to the wetland from locations like Northern Asia and Siberia.