The Marine archaeological studies of Chilika Lake show that the Odisha coast, especially around Chilika lake, historically acted as a safe harbor for cargo ships bound for southeast Asia and other parts of the world. Since the third millennium before the common era (CE), the lake has been under maritime activities.
Highlights of Marine archaeological studies of Chilika Lake
- Chilka lake formation dates back to the Pleistocene epoch, around 20,000 years ago.
- Stone anchors and hero stones from Manikapatna, Palur, and adjoining onshore regions of the Chilika suggest a brackish water lagoon, part of the Bay of Bengal.
- Sand bars near the river Mahanadi’s mouth were formed due to the heavy load of silt and dump part of its delta.
- The sediment-laden river met the Bay of Bengal, leading to the creation of seawater’s backflow into the sluggish fresh water at the estuary, resulting in the huge brackish water lake.
- Historically, this port was located at Chhatargarh on the banks of the Chilika.
- As per the studies, tectonic movements around 4000 years led to the Chilika lake’s separation from the Bay of Bengal through a barrier split near Palur.
- Presently, Chilika Lake is 64 km long in the north-south direction and 13.5 km wide in the east-west direction.
About Chilika Lake
- Chilika lake spans overs Puri, Ganjam, and Khurda districts of Odisha on the east coast of India.
- It is located on the Daya river’s mouth flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
- It covers an area of around 1000 sq. km.
- The lake is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian subcontinent.
- In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated as the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
- Chilika (Balaban) Wildlife Sanctuary in the lagoon area covering 16 sq km was declared a bird sanctuary in 1987.
- Chilika is very rich in both invertebrate and vertebrate fauna, and home to many threatened species and prominent attractions of the lake are Irrawady dolphins.
- Mass nesting beach (rookery) of Olive Ridley turtles along the Chilika coast is at Rushikulya seen every year.
- The Chilika Lake’s ecosystem comprises tidal ingress from the sea, which mixes with the freshwater brought by rivers like Daya, Bhargabi, Luna, and many rivulets. Thereby making it a hot spot of rich Biodiversity.
Odisha Lake Conservation
- Chilika lake is threatened by eutrophication, siltation, salinity change, increase in aquaculture activities, etc. The Odisha Wetland Authority looks after the conservation of Chilika lake with the lake program’s management intended to strengthen thousands of fishermen’s livelihood relying on the waterbody.
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