Great Rann of Kutch
महान कच्छ का रण
One of the world's largest salt marshes, the Great Rann of Kutch, India, is a semi-desert of salty clay and mudflats. It is a massive expanse of cracked earth, inland from the sea. The area was a once a sprawling shallow of the Arabian Sea until a constant geological shift closed off the connection with the sea. Over the years, the region eventually became a seasonal marshy salt desert. During monsoons, the marsh fills up with water. In the summers, the water dries to create a crunchy based bed of white salty land. The Great Rann of Kutch supports diverse wildlife, including breeding grounds for large flocks of greater and lesser flamingos. It is an extension of the Thar Desert.