Question map
Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?
Explanation
Keibul Lamjao National Park, formed by the southern portion of Loktak Lake, is the only floating national park in the world.[1] The Loktak Lake has a unique ecosystem called 'Phumdi' (a Manipuri word meaning floating mats of soil and vegetation).[2] The park is a continuous mass of Phumdi occupying an area of 40 sq. km.[3] The park showcases rich biodiversity.[4]
This makes Keibul Lamjao National Park unique as a swamp with floating vegetation that supports rich biodiversity. The other options - Bhitarkanika (mangrove ecosystem), Keoladeo Ghana (wetland bird sanctuary), and Sultanpur (bird sanctuary) - are important protected areas but do not feature floating vegetation. The floating phumdi ecosystem of Keibul Lamjao is also the last natural habitat of the endangered Sangai deer (brow-antlered deer), making it ecologically significant.
Sources- [1] https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6086/
- [2] https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6086/
- [3] https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6086/
- [4] https://www.wii.gov.in/uploads/topics/ar-2022-23-detail-17527452724729.pdf
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a classic 'Sitter' disguised as a specific ecology question. While the provenance skeleton flags it as web-heavy, the 'Floating Park' (Keibul Lamjao) is a staple fact in every standard Environment text (Shankar IAS, NCERT). The strategy is simple: memorize the 'Superlatives' (Largest, Only, First, Unique) of Indian geography.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Is Bhitarkanika National Park a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity
- Statement 2: Is Keibul Lamjao National Park a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity
- Statement 3: Is Keoladeo Ghana National Park a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity
- Statement 4: Is Sultanpur National Park a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity
- Directly names Bhitarkanika National Park as the answer to the question about a swamp with floating vegetation supporting rich biodiversity.
- Explicitly links the park's uniqueness to being a swamp with floating vegetation and rich biodiversity.
States that Bhitarkanika along the coast of Odisha is the second largest mangrove of India (mangroves are a type of coastal swamp vegetation).
A student could note that mangrove ecosystems are typically swampy, often with floating or water-adapted vegetation, and check coastal maps or satellite images of Odisha to see Bhitarkanika's swampy mangrove environment.
Lists Bhitarkanika National Park as a Marine Protected Area, implying protection of intertidal/subtidal terrain and associated flora and fauna.
Use the MPA definition (intertidal/subtidal + associated flora/fauna) and basic coastal geography to infer Bhitarkanika includes wet, waterlogged habitats that support diverse species, then verify with maps or species lists.
Notes Bhitarkanika National Park and Sanctuary form an integral part of one Marine Protected Area, reinforcing its coastal/wetland character and conservation focus.
Combine this with standard knowledge that coastal MPAs commonly protect swampy mangrove areas and rich biodiversity; check regional habitat descriptions or imagery for floating vegetation presence.
Mentions that sanctuaries may be created for particular species and gives the example of a turtle sanctuary at Bhitarkanika, suggesting the area supports notable wildlife.
A student could infer that the habitat (likely wet/mangrove) sustains specialist fauna (e.g., turtles), and then consult species-habitat associations or maps to judge whether floating vegetation and swamp conditions are present.
Describes India's variety of wetland habitats and notes protected water‑fowl sites, establishing that India conserves wet, marshy systems which can harbour rich biodiversity.
Apply this general rule to Bhitarkanika (already identified as major mangrove/wetland) and use basic external resources (coastal location, Ramsar/MPA listings, imagery) to evaluate presence of swampy/floating vegetation and biodiversity.
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