Haleji Lake

Haleji Lake
Haleji Lake is located in Sindh
Haleji Lake
Haleji Lake
LocationThatta District, Sindh, Pakistan
Coordinates24°48′22″N 67°46′44″E / 24.806°N 67.779°E / 24.806; 67.779
Basin countriesPakistan
Max. length2 km (1.2 mi)
Max. width2 km (1.2 mi)
Surface area4 km2 (1.5 sq mi)
Average depth5 m (16 ft)
Max. depth5 m (16 ft)
SettlementsThatta, Karachi
Designated23 July 1976
Reference no.101[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 Province 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 in 1943.

Fauna

Haleji Lake is a wintering site for native and migratory waterfowl such as cotton teal, Indian spot-billed duck, purple moorhen and pheasant-tailed jacana. It is also a breeding site for egrets and herons.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Haleji Lake". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Khan, M.Z.; Abbas, D.; Ghalib, S.A.; Yasmeen, R.; Siddiqui, S.; Mehmood, N.; Zehra, A.; Begum, A.; Jabeen, T.; Yasmeen, G.; 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.


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