Sambhar Salt Lake

Location

The Sambhar Lake is considered to be a wonder/ miracle of nature wherein a Gigantic Salt water Lake springs out of nowhere at a distance of 50 km towards west of Jaipur. This is India's largest salt water lake (almost 35 Km long) and has been providing the means of livelihood for centuries to many families residing in vicinity and make salt. This wide-ranging saline everglade plays host to thousands of avian visitors, some as far as Siberia, during winters. The Lake in unison with adjacent briny water bodies viz. Phulera and Deedwana forms the most vital wintering area for flamingoes in India (Rann of Kutch notwithstanding). These lakes form a consortium which is inimitable in its physical and chemical characteristics and sustains unique cluster of life forms, the alga, Dunaliella salina and bacterium Serratia sambhariana. Surprisingly the potassium concentration for such a huge water body is almost negligible and is considered unique by the scientists.