| Keenjhar Lake | |
|---|---|
| ڪینجھر ڍنڍ (Sindhi) | |
 | |
  Keenjhar Lake Location in Sindh  Keenjhar Lake Location in Pakistan | |
| Location | Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 24°57′N 68°03′E / 24.950°N 68.050°E |
| 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 | 0.53×106 acre⋅ft (650 hm3) |
| Surface elevation | 15 metres (49 ft) |
| Official name | Kinjhar Lake |
| Designated | 23 July 1976 |
| Reference no. | 99[2] |
Keenjhar Lake (Urdu: کینجھر جھیل; Sindhi: ڪینجھر ڍنڍ), commonly called Kalri Lake (Urdu: کلری 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 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.
