- Sambhar Salt Lake is India’s largest inland salt lake.
- It is located in Nagaur and Jaipur districts of Rajasthan.
- It is surrounded on all sides by the Aravali hills.
- The lake is actually an extensive saline wetland with circumference of 96 km.
- It receives water from an endorheic basin with 5700 square km catchment area.
- Economic Importance: It is source of most of Rajasthan’s salt production. It produces 196,000 tonnes of clean salt every year.
- Ecological Importance: It has been designated as a Ramsar site (recognized wetland of international importance). It is important wintering area for flamingos and other birds that migrate from northern Asia.
- Why in news? NGT has directed the Rajasthan government to cancel allotments of salt pans in the Sambhar Salt Lake.