12th October 2020, Static Quiz on Environment

Correct Answer : D
Answer Justification :
Learning: The conservation area was created in 1999 by the Indian government. UNESCO designated it a biosphere reserve in 2009. It includes three wildlife conservation units: Bori Sanctuary Pachmarhi Sanctuary Satpura National Park The reserve is composed primarily of forest habitats, and is an important transition zone between the forest species of western and eastern India. The forests are dominated by teak. They include the westernmost groves of sal, which is the dominant tree of eastern India’s forests.

Correct Answer : A
Answer Justification :
Learning: Earlier known as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park (IGWLS&NP) and previously as Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, it is a protected area located in the Anaimalai Hills of Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu state. The park is named after former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi. The main tourist facilities are located in the northeast corner of the park at “Topslip”, so named because of the local 19th century practice of sliding timber logs down the hills from here. This tiger reserve, together with the several other contiguous protected forest and grassland habitats, is the core of the Parambikulum-Indira Gandhi tiger habitat landscape complex.

Correct Answer : A
Answer Justification
Silent Valley NP is one of the last undisturbed tracts of South Western Ghats mountain rain forests and tropical moist evergreen forest in India. Contiguous with the proposed Karimpuzha National Park to the north and Mukurthi National Park to the north-east, it is the core of the Nilgiri International Biosphere Reserve, and is part of The Nilgiri Sub-Cluster, Western Ghats World Heritage Site, recognised by UNESCO in 2007

Correct Answer : B
Answer Justification :
Learning: The ranges were formed during the Precambrian era (3.8 billion to 540 million years ago). Minerals contained in these hills include sandstone and shale interbedded with limestone. The ranges are bounded by the Rayalaseema uplands to the west and northwest, and the Nandyal Valley to the north. The Srivenkateshwara National Park is also located in these ranges. The famous Natural Arch, Tirumala Hills is also a part of Seshachalam Hills. In 2010 it was designated as a Biosphere Reserve. It has large reserves of Red Sandal wood which is used in medicines, soaps ,spiritual rituals.

Correct Answer : A
Answer Justification :
Learning: The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean. The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is a protected area of India consisting of 21 small islands (islets) and adjacent coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar in the Indian Ocean. The park has a high diversity of plants and animals in its marine, intertidal and near shore habitats. Public access inside the Park is limited to glass bottom boat rides. Mangroves dominate the intertidal zones of the park islands.

Correct Answer : C
Answer Justification :
Justification: Statement 1: KKL is spread over 25,000 km2 south of the Brahmaputra River in Assam, touching the neighbouring states of Meghalaya and Nagaland in north-eastern India. Kaziranga National Park, the biggest protected area (PA) in this landscape is connected with the rest of the landscape through four corridors, namely Panbari, Haldhibari, Amguri and Kanchanjhuri, which are facing anthropogenic pressures.
Statement 2: This landscape has a population of about 2500 elephants – about half of Assam’s elephant population and more than 70 per cent of Assam’s tigers. In addition, this landscape boasts of more than 2,000 rhinos, comprising close to 90 per cent of the rhino population of India. This makes the area critical for protection and conservation of wildlife and their habitats.

Correct Answer : A
Answer Justification :
Justification: Option A: It is one of the largest man-made wetlands of northern India which shares its area with the Tarntaran, Ferozpur and Kapurthala districts of Punjab. It came into existence in 1952 after the construction of barrage near the confluence of rivers Sutlej and Beas. Harike is a significant abode for the birds migrating from across the international frontiers. Harike also harbours endangered aquatic mammalian as well as reptilian fauna like Indus river dolphin, smooth-coated otter and seven species of rare freshwater turtles.
Option B: It is a natural backwater in Kollam district. It forms an estuary with Sea at Neendakara which is a famous fishing harbour in Kerala. National Waterway 3 passes through it.
Option C: A Ramsar site, it is a high altitude lake on the upper Chandra valley flowing to the Chandra river of the Western Himalayas near the Kunzam pass joining the Himalayan and Pir Panjal ranges. It supports CITES and IUCN Redlisted Snow Leopard and is a refuge for many species like Snow Cock, Chukor, Black Ring Stilt, Kestrel, Golden Eagle, Chough, Red Fox, Himalayan Ibex, and Blue Sheep.
Option D: It is a natural wetland with freshwater springs and inland subterranean karst formations, fed by a small stream flowing from the lower Himalayan out to the Giri river. The lake has high religious significance and is named after the mother of Hindu sage Parshuram, and is thus visited by thousands of pilgrims and tourists. It is a Ramsar site.

Correct Answer : A
Answer Justification :
Justification: The major landform of the Desert National Park consists of craggy rocks and compact salt lake bottoms, intermedial areas and fixed dunes. It has a collection of fossils of animals and plants of 180 million years old. Some fossils of dinosaurs of 6 million years old have been found in the area The region is a haven for migratory and resident birds of the desert. The endangered Indian bustard is the major attraction of Desert National Park. Gadsisar Sagar Tank tank is among the tourist places in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Thousands of migratory birds come to this place every year. Hemis is the largest national park of India.

Correct Answer : C
Answer Justification :
Learning:Keoladeo national park is a very important site, and has been covered in one another question.
Every year thousands of migratory waterfowl visit the park for wintering and breeding. It is also a World Heritage Site.
The reserve protects Bharatpur from frequent floods, provides grazing grounds for village cattle, and earlier was primarily used as a waterfowl hunting ground.

Correct Answer : C
Answer Justification :
Justification:Option A:Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary also known as the Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary islocated in the Little Rann of Kutch in the Gujarat state of India.
Option D:Namdhapha National Park and Neora Valley National Park contain dense vegetation.
Option C: Six new natural heritage sites, viz., Bhitarkanika Conservation area, Desert National Park, Kangchendzonga National Park, Namdhapha National Park, Neora Valley National Park, and Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little
Rann of Kutch have been included in the tentative list of World Heritage Site nominations from India.