NEWS

Chilika Lake, the largest brackish water lake and wintering ground of birds in the Indian subcontinent, saw a million birds, including the uncommon Mongolian gull, visiting the waterbody this year.

ABOUT CHILKA LAKE

• Brackish water lagoon
• Spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha state
• On the east coast of India, at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
• Largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest coastal lagoon in the world.
• Largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent.
• Home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals
• Important habitat and breeding ground for both resident and migratory and aquatic birds, most notably flamingos.
• The Nalaban Island within the lagoon is classified as a Bird Sanctuary under the wildlife protection act.
• Designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention(In 1981)
• The lagoon is also home to 14 types of raptors. Around 152 rare and endangered Irrawaddy dolphins have also been reported. Plus, the lagoon supports about 37 species of reptiles and amphibians.
• Microalgae, marine seaweeds, sea grasses, fish and crab also flourish in the brackish water