Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary

PRELIMS BITS: 

• Location: Pong Dam Lake, also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar, is located in Himachal Pradesh, India.
• Significance: It is one of the largest man-made wetlands in Northern India, covering 307 sq km. It was designated a Ramsar site in 2002.
• Flora: The sanctuary contains submerged vegetation, grasslands, and forests, with species such as eucalyptus, acacia, and shisham.
• Fauna: It hosts over 220 bird species, including Bar-headed geese, Pintails, and Cormorants. It is also home to animals like Sambar, Wild Bear, Nilgai, and Leopards.
• Recent Development: In 2025, the sanctuary recorded an unprecedented number of waterfowl, with 1,53,719 birds of 97 species counted.