| Rann of Kutch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Indomalayan |
| Biome | flooded grasslands and savannas |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 27,454 km2 (10,600 mi2) |
| Countries | |
| States (India), Provinces (Pakistan) | |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Relatively stable/intact[1] |
| Protected | 20,946 km2 (76%)[2] |
TheRann of Kutch (IPA:[ɾən...kət͡ːʃʰ]) is a large area ofsalt marshes located in the northwestern part of theIndian subcontinent, and spans the border between India and Pakistan. Most of the region is located in theKutch district of the Indian state ofGujarat, with a minor portion extending into theSindh province of Pakistan. It is further sub-divided geographically into theGreat Rann andLittle Rann.
The region used to be part of low lyingpeneplain submerged under theArabian Sea, and when the waters receded, it left behind the salt marshes, which formed the Rann of Kutch. TheLuni River flowed into the Rann of Kutch, however when the hydrography changed when the Rann dried up, the Luni ended up as an inland river flowing into theThar desert to the north.
The Rann of Kutch spans 27,454 km2 (10,600 sq mi) and is located mostly in theKutch district of the Indian state ofGujarat with a portion extending into the Pakistani province ofSindh. The wordRann or Rinn means "desert" inSindhi andGujarati. It is further subdivided into theGreat Rann of Kutch, the larger portion of the Rann, which has theThar Desert to the north, the low hills ofKutch to the south, and theIndus River Delta to the west. TheLittle Rann of Kutch lies southeast of the Great Rann, and extends southwards to theGulf of Kutch.
The surface is generally flat and very close to sea level, and most of the Rann floods annually during the monsoon season. There are areas of sandy higher ground, known asbets ormedaks, which lie two to three metres above flood level. Trees and shrubs grow on the bets, and they provide refuges for wildlife during the annual floods.[1] Several rivers originating inRajasthan and Gujarat flow into the Rann of Kutch, including theLuni,Bhuki,Bharud,Nara,Kharod,Banas,Saraswati,Rupen, Bambhan, andMachchhu.[3]Kori Creek andSir Creek aretidal creeks, which are part of the Indus delta, are located at the western end of the Great Rann.
The climate of the ecoregion is tropical savanna/semi-arid. Temperatures average 44 °C (111 °F) during the hot summer months, and can reach highs of 50 °C (122 °F). During winter the temperature can drop to or below 44 °C (111 °F).[1] Rainfall is highly seasonal. The region is dry for most of the year, and rainfall is concentrated in thesouthwest monsoon season of June to September. During the monsoon season, local rainfall and river runoff flood much of the Rann to a depth of 50 cm (20 in). The waters evaporate during the long dry season, leaving the Rann dry again by the start of the next monsoon season.[1]
The Rann of Kutch is the only largeflooded grasslands zone in theIndomalayan realm.[1] The area has desert on one side and the sea on the other, which enables various ecosystems, includingmangroves anddesert vegetation.[4] Its grassland and deserts are home to forms of wildlife that have adapted to its often harsh conditions. These includeendemic andendangered animal and plant species.[5]
The predominant vegetation in the Rann of Kutch is grassland and thorn scrub. Common grass species includeApluda aristata,Cenchrus spp.,Pennisetum spp.,Cymbopogon spp.,Eragrostis spp., andElionurus spp.[1] Trees are rare except on the bets which rise above the flood zone. The non-native treeProsopis juliflora has become established on the bets, and its seed pods provide year-round food for the wild asses.[1]
The Rann of Kutch is home to about 50 species ofmammals. They include several largeherbivores, includingIndian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur),chinkara (Gazella bennettii),nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), andblackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), and large predators likeIndian wolf (Canis lupus),striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena),desert wildcat (Felis lybica), andcaracal (Felis caracal). The Indian wild ass once had a wider distribution but is now limited to the Rann of Kutch. The nilgai and blackbuck are threatened species.[1]
There are over 200 bird species in the Rann of Kutch, including the threatened specieslesser florican (Sypheotides indicus) andhoubara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata). The seasonal wetlands provide habitat for many water birds, including thedemoiselle crane (Grus virgo) andlesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor).[1]
The history of the Rann of Kutch began with earlyNeolithic settlements. The people of the Indus Civilization appear to have settled in the Rann of Kutch around 3500 BCE.[6] The Indus city ofDholavira, the largest Indus site in India, is located in the Rann of Kutch. This city was built on theTropic of Cancer, possibly indicating that Dholavira's inhabitants were skilled in astronomy.[7] The Rann of Kutch also contained the industrial site ofKhirasara, where a warehouse was found.[8] Indologists hold a view that the Rann of Kutch was, rather than the salt marsh that it is today, a navigable archipelago at the time of the Indus Civilization. The Indus Civilization was known to have an extensive maritime trade system, so there were perhaps ports in the Rann of Kutch.[9] The Rann of Kutch was later part of both theMaurya andGupta empires.[10][11]
During theBritish Raj in the early 20th century, a ban on salt harvesting resulted in a protest march byMahatma Gandhi.[12] The Rann Utsav festival, a three-month long carnival, commemorates the local art forms.[13]
As per a 2017 report, about 20,946 km2 (8,087 sq mi), of the ecoregion is designated as protected area.[2] TheKutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers 7,506.22 km2 (2,898.17 sq mi) and much of the Great Rann, was established in 1986. TheIndian Wild Ass Sanctuary, spread across 4,953.71 km2 (1,912.64 sq mi) in the Little Rann, established in 1973.[14] Pakistan'sRann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary covers the northern portion of the Great Rann and adjacent Thar Desert.[15]
24°05′11″N70°38′16″E / 24.08639°N 70.63778°E /24.08639; 70.63778
