CHILIKA LAKE (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: Recently, migratory birds flocked to Chilika for the upcoming winter season.

• Migratory birds, mostly from beyond the Himalayas in Northern Eurasia, the Caspian region, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Lake Baikal and the remote areas of Russia and neighbouring countries visit the Chilika every winter and start their homeward journey before the onset of summer.

Chilika Lake

• About: Asia's largest brackish water lagoon, Chilika is located in Odisha, India, at the Bay of Bengal's mouth where the Daya River flows.
• As the largest coastal lagoon in India and the world's second-largest, Chilika was declared a Ramsar site in 1981, reflecting its significance for biodiversity and socio-economic factors.
• Chilika became the first Indian waterbody to be recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• Kalijai Temple - Located on an island in the Chilika Lake.
• Migratory Birds: Amur Falcons, Bar-headed Geese, Black-necked cranes, Marine turtles, Dugongs, Humpback Whales, etc.