Q: In which city was the international treaty for the conservation of wetlands signed in 1971?
Answer: Ramsar
Explanation: The convention was signed in the city of Ramsar, Iran. It is officially known as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. This treaty provides the framework for national action and international cooperation.
Q: Which Ramsar wetland site in Assam, India, is a permanent freshwater lake and an important habitat for the Gangetic River Dolphin?
Answer: Deepor Beel
Explanation: Deepor Beel is a permanent freshwater lake and one of the most important wetlands in Assam, located to the southwest of Guwahati city. It was designated a Ramsar site in 2002. The beel (lake) is an important habitat for the Gangetic River Dolphin and supports over 200 species of birds. It serves as the only major stormwater storage lake for Guwahati city. The site faces threats from urban encroachment, pollution from the city, and a railway line passing through it.
Q: The Keoladeo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar wetland in India, is located in which state?
Answer: Rajasthan
Explanation: Keoladeo National Park, also known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is located in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan. It is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 1985) and a Ramsar site (since 1981). The park is a globally significant wintering ground for migratory birds, including the critically endangered Siberian Crane. It was originally a duck-hunting reserve of the Maharajas of Bharatpur. The park covers approximately 29 sq km and hosts over 370 species of birds.
Q: Which Ramsar site in Manipur, India, is famous for the unique phenomenon of floating islands called "phumdis"?
Answer: Loktak Lake
Explanation: Loktak Lake in Manipur is the largest freshwater lake in northeastern India and is famous for its unique floating islands called "phumdis" — heterogeneous masses of vegetation, soil, and organic matter. The lake was designated a Ramsar site in 1990. The world's only floating national park, Keibul Lamjao National Park, is located within the lake. The lake is home to the endangered Sangai (Manipur brow-antlered deer). Phumdis cover approximately 70 sq km of the lake surface.
Q: Which Ramsar site in Jammu & Kashmir, spread across approximately 189 sq km, is the largest freshwater lake in India?
Answer: Wular Lake
Explanation: Wular Lake in the Bandipora district of Jammu & Kashmir is the largest freshwater lake in India, covering approximately 189 sq km at its maximum extent. It was designated a Ramsar site in 1990. The lake is fed by the Jhelum River and serves as a natural flood basin. It supports fishing communities and is an important habitat for migratory waterfowl. Pangong Tso is a brackish lake in Ladakh, Dal Lake is a smaller lake famous for its houseboats in Srinagar, and Mansar Lake is a smaller lake in Jammu.
Q: Which Ramsar site in Odisha, known for its population of Irrawaddy dolphins and nesting Olive Ridley sea turtles, is a lagoon ecosystem?
Answer: Chilika Lake
Explanation: Chilika Lake in Odisha is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian subcontinent. It was the first Indian site to be designated a Ramsar site in 1981. The lake is famous for its population of Irrawaddy dolphins and nesting Olive Ridley sea turtles. It was placed on the Montreux Record in 1993 due to ecological degradation but was removed in 2002 after successful restoration. The lake covers approximately 1,100 sq km and hosts over 160 migratory bird species.
Q: Which Ramsar site, located in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan, is famous as the largest breeding ground of flamingos in India?
Answer: Sambhar Salt Lake
Explanation: Sambhar Salt Lake in Rajasthan is the largest inland salt lake in India and a designated Ramsar site (1990). It is one of the most important breeding grounds for flamingos in India, with hundreds of thousands of flamingos visiting annually. The lake is also used for salt production, which has been practised for over 150 years. Located near Jaipur, it covers approximately 190–230 sq km depending on the season. The lake receives water from the Mendha, Rupangarh, and other seasonal rivers.
Q: Which Ramsar wetland site located in Tamil Nadu is a bird sanctuary and one of the most important wintering grounds for the Greater Flamingo?
Answer: Point Calimere
Explanation: Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary (also known as Kodikkarai) in the Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu is a Ramsar site designated in 2002. It is one of the most important wintering grounds for the Greater Flamingo in India, with tens of thousands visiting annually. The sanctuary is located at the southernmost tip of peninsular India where the Bay of Bengal meets the Palk Strait. It covers approximately 21.47 sq km and supports diverse ecosystems including dry evergreen forests, saltpans, and grasslands.
Q: Hokera Wetland, a Ramsar site known for supporting migratory waterfowl and listed species like the Western Tragopan, is located in which state?
Answer: Jammu & Kashmir
Explanation: Hokera Wetland is located in the Budgam district of Jammu & Kashmir, about 10 km northwest of Srinagar. It was designated a Ramsar site in 2005. The wetland is an important staging and wintering ground for migratory waterfowl including the critically endangered Baer's Pochard. It also supports threatened species like the Western Tragopan. The wetland spans approximately 13.75 sq km and its water supply is linked to the Dal Lake watershed. It plays an important role in supporting local communities through fishing and reed harvesting.
Q: Renuka Lake, the smallest designated Ramsar site in India by surface area, is located in which Indian state?
Answer: Himachal Pradesh
Explanation: Renuka Lake (also called Renuka Wetland) in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh is the smallest Ramsar site in India, covering only about 0.2 sq km. It was designated a Ramsar site in 2005. The lake is considered sacred and is associated with the goddess Renuka. It is a natural lake of glacial origin and forms part of the Renuka Ji Wildlife Sanctuary. Despite its small size, it supports important biodiversity including the endangered Gharial. The lake is fed by the Jhirgahi stream and is an important pilgrimage destination.