Haleji Lake

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]

Haleji Lake
Location	Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan
Coordinates	24.805911°N 67.779482°E / 24.805911; 67.779482
Basin countries	Pakistan
Max. length	2 km (1.2 mi)
Max. width	2 km (1.2 mi)
Surface area	4 km^2 (1.5 sq mi)
Average depth	5 m (16 ft)
Max. depth	5 m (16 ft)
Settlements	Thatta, Karachi
Ramsar Wetland
Designated	23 July 1976
Reference no.	101[1]

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.

Fauna

Haleji Lake is a wintering site for 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

• Hamal Lake
• Hadero Lake

References

1. "Haleji Lake". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
2. 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.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)