Keenjhar Lake

Keenjhar Lake (Urdu: کینجھر جھیل; Sindhi: ڪینجھر ڍنڍ), commonly called Karli Lake (Urdu: کرلی جھیل; Sindhi: ڪلري ڍنڍ), is located in Thatta District of Sindh the province of Pakistan. It is situated about 36 kilometres (22 mi) from the city of Thatta.^[3] It is an important source of drinking water for Thatta District and Karachi city.^[4] Through the construction of a bund on the eastern side, it is said that the lake was formed by the union of two lakes: Sonehri and Keenjhar.^[1]

Keenjhar Lake
ڪینجھر ڍنڍ (Sindhi)
Keenjhar Lake Location in Sindh Show map of Sindh Keenjhar Lake Location in Pakistan Show map of Pakistan
Location	Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan
Coordinates	24°57′N 68°03′E / 24.950°N 68.050°E / 24.950; 68.050
Basin countries	Pakistan
Max. length	24 km (15 mi)
Max. width	6 km (3.7 mi)
Surface area	13,468 ha (33,280 acres)
Average depth	1 m (3 ft 3 in)
Max. depth	7.9 metres (26 ft)[1]
Water volume	0.53×10^6 acre⋅ft (650 hm3)
Surface elevation	15 metres (49 ft)
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Kinjhar Lake
Designated	23 July 1976
Reference no.	99[2]

Keenjhar Lake has been declared a ramsar site and a wildlife sanctuary. It provides a favorable habitat of winter migratory birds like ducks, geese, flamingos, cormorants, waders, herons, egrets, ibises, terns, coots and gulls. It has been observed as a breeding area of the black-crowned night heron, the cotton pygmy goose, purple swamphen, and pheasant-tailed jacana.^[5]

Keenjhar Lake is a popular tourist resort. Many people from Karachi, Hyderabad and Thatta visit to enjoy picnics, swimming, fishing, and boating.

The famous folklore of Noori Jam Tamachi who was a fisherwoman, is connected to the lake.^[1] There is a shrine in the middle of the lake marking Noori's grave, which is visited devotees.