Which one of the following is the best example of repeated falls in sea level, giving rise to present-day extensive marshland? (a) Bhitarkanika Mangroves (b) Marakkanam Salt Pans (c) Naupada Swamp (d) Rann of Kutch

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The correct answer is option D. The Rann of Kutch is an extensive seasonal salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in Gujarat, India. Geologically, it was once a shallow arm of the Arabian Sea. Over time, due to tectonic uplift and sedimentation, its connection to the sea was gradually cut off, leading to repeated changes in sea level and the formation of a vast, flat, saline marshland. During the monsoon, it fills with water, becoming a shallow wetland, and in the dry season, it transforms into a salt desert. This unique physiography is a direct result of geological processes and sea-level fluctuations. Bhitarkanika Mangroves are a tidal mangrove ecosystem, Marakkanam Salt Pans are artificial salt production areas, and Naupada Swamp is a coastal wetland, but none exemplify the large-scale geological history of sea-level falls as distinctly as the Rann of Kutch.

Q20. Which one of the following is the best example of repeated falls in sea level, giving rise to present-day extensive marshland? (a) Bhitarkanika Mangroves (b) Marakkanam Salt Pans (c) Naupada Swamp (d) Rann of Kutch

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