Ashtamudi Wetlands
• An extensive estuarine system, the second largest in Kerala State.
• It lies in the Kollam district.
• This is the second largest wetland in Kerala with a palm shaped extensive
water body and eight prominent arms, adjoining the Kollam town
• Two Rivers: Kallada & Pallichal
• It supports a number of mangrove species as well as over 40 associated
plant species, and 57 species of birds
• National Waterway 3 passes through it.
Sasthamkotta Lake
• Wetland Type: Freshwater lake
• The largest freshwater lake in Kerala state in the southwest of the
country, spring-fed and the source of drinking water for half a
million people in the Kollam district.
• The ancient Sastha temple is an important pilgrimage centre.
• River kallada had a unique replenishing system through a bar of
paddy.
• Notable Species: Butter Catfish, Day’s Glassy Perchlet, Malabar
mystus
• Vulnerable Species: Gunther’s catfish, Wallago Catfish
Kolleru Lake
• A natural eutrophic lake, situated between the two major river
basins of the Godavari and the Krishna
• It provides habitat for a number of resident and migratory birds,
including declining numbers of the vulnerable Grey Pelican
(Pelecanus philippensis), and sustains both culture and capture
fisheries, agriculture and related occupations of the people in the
area.
• Notable Species: Spot Billed Pelican
• Endangered Species: Great Adjutant
• Vulnerable Species: Grey Pelican, lesser Adjutant
Bhoj Wetland
• The wetland consist of two Lake – The Upper lake and the
Lower lake.
• The wetland consists of two man-made lakes--the upper
lake and the lower lake.
• The "Upper Lake" was created in the 11th century by
construction of an earthen dam across the Kolans River.
• The Upper Lake is surrounded by Van Vihar National Park
on the south, human settlements on the east and north,
and agriculture fields on the west.
• The lower was constructed nearly 200 years ago, largely from
leakage from the Upper, and is surrounded by the city of Bhopal.
• The Upper lakes are very rich in biodiversity, particularly for
macrophytes, phytoplankton, zooplankton, both natural and
cultured fish species, both resident and migratory birds, insects,
and reptiles and amphibians.
• The upper lake is the principal source of drinking water for the city
of Bhopal.
• The lower lake meets out the requirement of raw water and
enhances the beauty of the city.
• The largest Indian Bird Sarus crane found here
Bhitarkanika
• It is a part of Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The site's Gahirmatha beach is said to host the largest
known Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting beach in the world,
• It also has the highest density of saltwater crocodile in the
country.
• It is a major breeding and wintering place for many resident
and migratory waterbirds and is the east coast's major
nursery for brackish water and estuarine fish fauna.
Chilka Lake
• Brackish lake separated from the Bay of Bengal by a long sandy
ridge and subject to sea water exchange, resulting in extreme
seasonal fluctuations in salinity in different sections of the lake
• Rivers: 52 rivers, Daya and Bhargavi
• The site is an important area for breeding, wintering and staging for
33 species of waterbirds.
• Placed on the Montreux Record in 1993 due to problems caused by
siltation and sedimentation which was choking the mouth of the
lake; removed from the Record in 2002 following rehabilitation
efforts for which the Chilika Development Authority received the
Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award for 2002.
Loktak lake:
• It is designated as a Ramsar wetland site on 23 march 1990.
• It is the largest freshwater lake in the North- eastern region of the
country.
• Keibul lamjao is the only floating National Park in the World floats
over it.
• Notable Species: Manipur Brow Antlered Deer or Sangai
• Manipur Brow Antlered Deer, Hog Deer, Dhole, Red Jasper Barb,
Keeled Box Turtle
• Lesser Adjutant, Sarus Crane, Common Pochard, Hooded Crane,
Common Carp, Amboina Box Turtle, King Cobra, Burmese Python
Renuka Wetland
• Protection Status : Wildlife Sanctuary
• Wetland Type : Freshwater lake and marshes
• A natural Wetland
• Prominent vegetation ranges from dry deciduous like Shorea
Robusta, Terminalia tomentosa, Dalbergia sissoo to hydrophytes.
• There are 103 species of birds of which 66 are residents, e.g.
Crimson-breasted barbet, Mayna, Bulbul, Pheasants, Egrets,
Herons, Mallards and Lapwing. Among ungulates Sambhar, Barking
deer and Ghorals are also abundant in the area.
• Endangered Species : Golden Mahseer
Tsomoriri Lake
• A freshwater to brackish lake lying at 4,595m above sea level, with wet
meadows and borax-laden wetlands along the shores.
• One of the highest Ramsar site in the world
• The site is said to represent the only breeding ground outside of China for
one of the most endangered cranes, the Black-necked crane (Grus
nigricollis), and the only breeding ground for Bar-headed geese in India.
• The Great Tibetan Sheep or Argali (Ovis ammon hodgsoni) and Tibetan
Wild Ass (Equus kiang) are endemic to the Tibetan plateau, of which the
Changthang is the westernmost part.
• Notable Species: Black necked Crane
• Vulnerable: Common Pochard, Black-necked Crane
