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Harike Wetland
 Harike is the biggest wetland in northern India. It is a vital staging post and the winter home of a enormous concentration of migratory waterfowl that rivals only Keoladeo National Park near Bharatpur. A number of globally threatened species have also been recorded in Harike.
Situated 55 km south of the city of Amritsar, the shallow reservoir was created in 1953 by the construction of a barrage at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers. Harike Lake was declared a 41 sq km wildlife santuary in 1982. Considered a wetland of international importance, it was included in the List of Ramsar sites in 1990. The sanctuary area was enlarged in 1992 to 86 sq km. From 1980-1985, the Bombay Natural History Society carried out research and a bird ringing programme there. Harike was also the subject of a 1994 publication by WWF-India as part of their series on Ramsar Sites of India.
The Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Prakash Singh Badal, has exposed an outstanding and welcome interest in wildlife. By constituting the Harike Wetland Conservation Mission, he hopes to safeguard the future of this rich wetland. To begin with, the Mission has been asked to review all existing management and action plans and submit a inclusive report within one month.
Some 7 species of turtle and 26 species of fish have been recorded in Harike. The mammals found at Harike include the Smooth Indian Otter, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Indian Wild Boar and the Common Mongoose. The rare and endangered Testudine Turtle and Smooth Indian Otter are listed in the IUCN Redlist of Threatened Animals. Harike attracts large populations of avifauna, in particular the diving ducks. It is a vital source of water for the people of Punjab. The main species of fish fauna present is Hilsa. The livelihood of nearby villagers depends to some extent upon the lake's fish resources.
 Amongst phytoplankton, the Bacillariophyceae is represented by about 10 species. An extensive growth of Typha elephantina and Phragmites karka is observed along the margins of the lake, in surrounding low lying areas, as well as in the upstream Mand area. Of free floating plants, Azolla, the nitrogen fixing fern, occurs in patches of open water. The tall grasses Saccharum spontaneum and S. bengalenses are common along the higher ground in the wetland area and on slopes and margins of surrounding bunds and dykes. Tamarix diocia is the sole woody plant adapted to an aquatic habitat found in the area; rest of the trees is upland species.
The major threats to this important wetland include; large scale utilization of both surface and ground waters for irrigation, expansion of intensive agriculture resulting in encroachments on the wetland, drainage of agricultural chemicals into the waters, discharge of untreated waste from catchment towns into the rivers which feed the wetland, and deforestation of the lower Shivalik hills, causing soil erosion and silting. The Indian Army in the year 2000, along with other agencies launched and completed a major project to clear water hyacinth, which was almost choking the lake.
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