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            1. Ramsar Sites

Sambhar Lake

Sambhar Lake

Sambhar Lake

Other RAMSAR Sites

Overview
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.

Justification for Designation as Ramsar Site
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.

Sambhar Lake
Biodiversity Values

Flora
One of the most conspicuous organisms is the green alga, Dunaliella salina, common in salt water lakes.

Fauna
The lake supports a large population of avifauna especially flamingoes, Northern shoveller and blackheaded gull. Some 45 species of aquatic birds including ducks, geese and shorebirds have been recorded.

Social & Cultural Values
Salt production, presently with Sambhar Salts Ltd., is said to be a thousand year-old activity. Sambhar lake city is the largest of human settlements around the lake. There is a lot of mythology and legend connected to Sambhar believed to have been gifted by the Goddess Shakambari to the local people 2500 years ago. Her shrine 'Mata Pahari' juts out into the lake west of Jhapok.

Threats
Shortage of water and increasing desertification is a problem.
Grazing pressure from domestic animals from some 20 villages located around the lake pose a threat.
Illegal hunting by local people is reported.
Conservation Measures
Though hunting has been banned in the area, no special conservation measures have been taken.

A comprehensive ecosystem study is urgently required for coming up with a management plan for the long term.

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