Kutch, Rann of

Salt-marsh area in Gujarat state, India, that forms two shallow lakes (the Great Rann and the Little Rann) in the wet season and is a salt-covered desert in the dry. It takes its name from the former princely state of Kutch, which it adjoined. An international tribunal in 1968 awarded 90% of the Rann of Kutch to India and 10% (about 800 sq km/300 sq mi) to Pakistan, the latter comprising almost all the elevated area above water the year round.