The designation of the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary, popularly known as Surha Tal, as India's 100th Ramsar site has brought the vast natural oxbow lake in the Ballia district into international spotlight, officials said on Friday.

Located near Basantpur village, around 17 kilometres from the district headquarters, Surha Tal was declared a bird sanctuary by the Uttar Pradesh government in 1991.