Pulicat Lake

Subject – Environment

Context – Lime shell mining activities carried out in and around Pulicat Lake are destroying the wetland’s mudflat habitats.

Concept –

Pulicat Lake is a unique waterbody that is situated along the east coast of India and sprawls across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- It lies majorly in Andhra Pradesh.
More than 600 years old, the lake has a strong association with the cultural heritage and socio-economic status of both States.
Buckingham Canal traverses in a north to the south direction at the lake’s eastern edge, along Sriharikota Island.
- The barrier island of Sriharikota separates the lake from the Bay of Bengal and is home to the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
The rivers Swarnamukhi and Kalangi in the north and the Arani and the Korttalaiyar (as the Kosasthalaiyar is referred to in old British era documents) in the south drain into Pulicat Lake during the monsoon.
In the dry season, water is generally present only in the southern areas and near the lake’s two inlets.
The lake receives fresh water through the rivers and canals draining into it and marine water through the inlet mouth connected to the Bay of Bengal.
It is the second-largest brackish water ecosystem in the country after the Chilika Lake (Odisha).
The large varieties of birds like grey pelicans, painted storks, visit the site annually.
- Grey Pelican and Painted Stork both are near-threatened species under IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary.
Flamingo Festival is held every year to promote tourism in Pulicat and Nelapattu.