Sambhar Salt Lake - साम्भर साल्ट लेक
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Some 60 km west of Jaipur in Rajasthan, is India's largest salt lake. The waters of Sambhar have been used for centuries to make salt. There is, however, another distinctive feature of this extensive saline wetland During winter, it receives tens of thousands of winged visitors, some migrating from as far north as Siberia For such waterfowl as the flamingo, Sambhar lake is one of the few habitats that ensure sustenance every year. It is in recognition of the urgency to protect the winter home of these 'distinguished guests' that Sambhar lake was designated as a Ramsar site in 1990.
Together with neighbouring saline wetlands, Phulera and Deedwana, the lake is probably the most important wintering area for flamingoes (both Phoniconaias minor and Phoenicopterus roseus) in India outside the Rann of Kachchh It is the largest representative in India of a specialized kind of habitat - salt lakes - which are unique not only in their physical and chemical attributes but also support a highly specialized group of organisms including the alga, Dunaliella salina and the bacterium Serratia sambhariana Sambhar lake brine is somewhat unique in that it has a very low potassium concentration.
Together with neighbouring saline wetlands, Phulera and Deedwana, the lake is probably the most important wintering area for flamingoes (both Phoniconaias minor and Phoenicopterus roseus) in India outside the Rann of Kachchh It is the largest representative in India of a specialized kind of habitat - salt lakes - which are unique not only in their physical and chemical attributes but also support a highly specialized group of organisms including the alga, Dunaliella salina and the bacterium Serratia sambhariana Sambhar lake brine is somewhat unique in that it has a very low potassium concentration.
 Photo by : zigzag_ut in webshots |
 Photo by : zigzag_ut in webshots |
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 Photo by : zigzag_ut in webshots |
 Photo by : andrewcredland in webshots |
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