Lake GK questions are very common in competitive exams. Here is the complete and accurate answer for both India and the world's largest saltwater (saline) lakes.
Pulicat Lake (Andhra Pradesh/Tamil Nadu border) is India's second largest saltwater lake. The Flamingo City of Pulicat is famous for its flamingo population.
Chilika Lake in Odisha is the largest coastal lagoon and largest saltwater lake in India.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Puri, Khordha, and Ganjam districts, Odisha |
| Area | ~1,100 km² (varies seasonally: 900–1,165 km²) |
| Type | Brackish (saline) coastal lagoon |
| Connected to | Bay of Bengal |
| Significance | First Indian site to be designated a Ramsar Wetland (1981) |
Chilika Lake is famous for being the largest wintering ground for migratory birds in the Indian subcontinent. Over 160 species of migratory birds from Siberia, Central Asia, and Europe visit each winter.
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest lake (both saltwater and overall by surface area).
Largest freshwater lake in India: Wular Lake (Jammu & Kashmir) Largest artificial lake in India: Govind Vallabh Pant Sagar (Sonbhadra, UP)
Chilika Lake is a **brackish water** lagoon — it contains a mix of fresh water (from rivers that drain into it) and salt water (from the Bay of Bengal). It is classified as a saltwater/saline lake.
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