Question

Chilika Lake, the largest salt water lake in India in the state of Odisha, lies to the south of the:

• A. Baitarani delta
• B. Brahmani delta
• C. Budhabalanga delta
• D. Mahanadi delta

Hint:

Chilika Lake was designated as the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1981.
Remembering that the Daya River (a distributary of the Mahanadi) flows directly into the lake makes it easy to associate Chilika Lake with the Mahanadi delta.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
This question is from General Knowledge, specifically Indian Geography, focusing on significant coastal physiographic features, deltaic regions, and wetlands.
We are asked to locate Chilika Lake relative to the major river deltas found in the eastern state of Odisha.

Step 2: Key Concept or Approach:
Chilika Lake is the largest brackish water coastal lagoon in India and the second-largest in the world.
Geographically, it is located on the east coast of India in the state of Odisha, situated south of the vast deltaic region formed by the Mahanadi River as it flows into the Bay of Bengal.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:

• The Mahanadi River is a major river in East-Central India, carrying immense water and sediment loads that deposit to form a massive deltaic plain in coastal Odisha.

• Chilika Lake is situated on the southern margin of this Mahanadi delta, stretching across the Puri, Khurda, and Ganjam districts of Odisha.

• The lagoon is fed by several distributaries of the Mahanadi River system, such as the Daya and Bhargavi rivers, which empty freshwater into the northern sector of the lake.

• This inflow of freshwater, mixed with saltwater entering through a narrow mouth from the Bay of Bengal, gives Chilika its distinct brackish and estuarine character.

• The other deltas mentioned (Baitarani, Brahmani, and Budhabalanga) are located further north along the Odisha coast and are not associated with the direct geographic boundary of Chilika Lake.



Step 4: Final Answer:
Chilika Lake lies to the south of the Mahanadi delta, which corresponds to option (D).