Name the largest salt lake in Rajasthan?

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2016

Explanation

Sambhar Lake is the correct answer as it is the largest inland salt lake in India, located in Rajasthan.
It spans across three districts: Jaipur, Ajmer, and Nagaur.
Its vast area makes it the most significant salt lake in the state and a primary center for salt production.
It is also recognized as a Ramsar site, highlighting its international importance as a wetland, especially as a habitat for flamingos and other migratory birds.

Option A: Lunkarnsar is a much smaller playa lake located in the Bikaner district and is not the largest salt lake in Rajasthan.
Option B: Didwana Lake, located in the Nagaur district, is smaller than Sambhar Lake. The salt produced here has a high sodium sulfate content, making it more suitable for industrial use rather than consumption.
Option C: Pachpadra Lake, in the Barmer district, is not the largest by area. Although it is famous for producing very high-quality salt (up to 98% sodium chloride), its size is smaller than Sambhar.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Geography of Rajasthan: Salt Lakes as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
General knowledge questions are a common component of nursing and other competitive examinations, testing the overall awareness of the candidate.
Understanding the geography and economy of a region, such as salt production from Sambhar Lake, provides context for community health. The local industry impacts employment, health, and environmental conditions.
Sambhar Lake's status as a Ramsar site is relevant to environmental health, as the conservation of such wetlands affects biodiversity and ecological balance.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'largest salt lake' and 'Rajasthan'.
This is a factual recall question from the domain of geography.
Access your knowledge about the geography of Rajasthan and its major lakes.
Evaluate each option based on the criterion of 'largest'.
Recall or deduce that Sambhar Lake is the largest inland salt lake not just in Rajasthan but in all of India.
Compare this with the other options (Didwana, Pachpadra, Lunkarnsar), which are known but smaller salt lakes, to confirm the answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QLcUUg2fDHjsnam9qq5Jpg

Practise the full NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2016

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.