5/5 vicky d. 2 years ago on Google
It
is
the
largest
wintering
ground
for migratory
birds on
the Indian
sub-continent.
The
lake
is
home
to
a
number
of threatened species
of
plants
and
animals.[9][10]
The
lake
is
an ecosystem with
large
fishery
resources.
It
sustains
more
than
150,000
fisher–folk
living
in
132
villages
on
the
shore
and
islands.[11][12]
The lagoon hosts
over
160
species
of
birds
in
the
peak
migratory
season.
Birds
from
as
far
as
the Caspian
Sea, Lake
Baikal, Aral
Sea and
other
remote
parts
of Russia, Kirghiz
steppes of Kazakhstan, Central and southeast
Asia, Ladakh and Himalayas come
here.
These
birds
travel
great
distances;
some
of
them
possibly
travel
as
much
as
12,000 km
to
reach
Chilika
Lake.
In
1981,
Chilika
Lake
was
designated
the
first
Indian wetland
of
international
importance under
the Ramsar
Convention.[13][14]
According
to
a
survey,
45
percent
of
the
birds
are
terrestrial
in
nature,
32
percent
are waterfowl,
and
23
percent
are waders.
The
lagoon
is
also
home
to
14
types
of raptors.
Around
152
rare
and
endangered Irrawaddy
dolphins have
also
been
reported.
Plus,
the
lagoon
supports
about
37
species
of reptiles and amphibians.[15]
The
highly
productive
Chilika
Lagoon eco-system with
its
rich
fishery
resources
sustains
the
livelihood
for
many
fishermen
who
live
in
and
near
the
lagoon.
The
water
spread
area
of
the
lagoon
ranges
between
1165
and
906 km2 during
the
monsoon
and
summer
respectively.
A
32 km
long,
narrow,
outer
channel
connects
the
lagoon
to
the Bay
of
Bengal,
near
the
village
Motto.
More
recently
a
new
mouth
has
been
opened
by
CDA
which
has
brought
a
new
lease
of
life
to
the
lagoon.
