Haleji Lake
| Haleji Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 24°48′21″N 67°46′46″E / 24.805911°N 67.779482°ECoordinates: 24°48′21″N 67°46′46″E / 24.805911°N 67.779482°E |
| Basin countries | Pakistan |
| Max. length | 2 km |
| Max. width | 2 km |
| Surface area | 4 sq km |
| Average depth | 5 m |
| Max. depth | 5 m |
| Settlements | Thatta, Karachi |
| Designated | July 23, 1976 [1] |
Haleji Lake (Urdu: ہالیجی جھیل) is a perennial freshwater lake in Thatta District of Sindh Province, Pakistan. It is 6.58 km2 (2.54 sq mi) in size and is surrounded by marshes and brackish seepage lagoons.[2]
History
Haleji Lake was a saline lagoon until the 1930s and was converted into a reservoir to provide additional water to Karachi.[2] During World War II, additional water was required for troops stationed at Karachi. The then-British Government of Sindh decided to increase the capacity of the lake by introducing a feeder canal from the Indus River. Salt water was drained out and an embankment was constructed around the lake which was fed with fresh water through a canal. The work was placed on a war footing and was completed within 24 months.
Fauna
Haleji Lake is a wintering site for waterfowl such as cotton teal, spot-billed duck, purple moorhen and pheasant-tailed jacana. It is also a breeding site for egrets and herons.[2]
References
- ↑ "Ramsar List". Ramsar.org. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- 1 2 3 Khan, M.Z., Abbas, D., Ghalib, S.A., Yasmeen, R., Siddiqui, S., Mehmood, N., Zehra, A., Begum, A., Jabeen, T., Yasmeen, G. and Latif, T.A. (2012). "Effects of environmental pollution on aquatic vertebrates and inventories of Haleji and Keenjhar Lakes: Ramsar Sites". Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences. 6 (1): 1759–1783.
