Previous Year Question
Largest saline water lake in India is
Chilka
Sambhar
Lonar
Wullar
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
Sambhar Lake, located in Rajasthan, is India's largest inland saline or salt lake. It extends across the region adjoining the districts of Jaipur, Nagaur and Ajmer in the Aravalli zone.
It occupies an endorheic basin, meaning that its water does not drain to the sea through an external river outlet. Water is mainly lost through evaporation, which progressively concentrates dissolved salts and produces the highly saline character of the lake.
Sambhar is also an important centre of salt production in India. It was designated a Ramsar Site in 1990 and is an important wetland for flamingos and other migratory waterbirds. Government of Rajasthan sources also describe Sambhar as India's largest inland salt lake.
An important distinction is necessary here. Chilika is larger in area than Sambhar, but Chilika is a brackish-water coastal lagoon connected with the sea. Sambhar is India's largest inland saline/salt lake. UPPSC accepted Sambhar as the answer to this question.
Lonar Lake in Maharashtra is a meteorite-impact crater lake, whereas Wullar Lake in Jammu and Kashmir is a freshwater lake.