List of lakes of Pakistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pakistan is home to many natural and man-made lakes and reservoirs. The largest lake in Pakistan,[1] and also one of the largest in South Asia,[2] is the Manchar Lake. The lake is spread over an area of over 260 square kilometres (100 square miles).[3]
The highest lakes in Pakistan are the Paristan Lake and the two Shimshal Lakes, all three of which are at an altitude of over 4,755 metres (15,600 ft).[4] The second-highest lake in Pakistan is the Karambar Lake, which is located at an altitude of 4,272 metres (14,016 ft), is the 33rd highest lake in the world.[5] A recent Google map analysis revealed more than 500 lakes in northern Pakistan (mainly in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral region). Many of these lakes are still nameless and undiscovered to even the local population.
Natural lakes
Gilgit-Baltistan
| Name | Image | Elevation | Location | Description | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attabad Lake |  |
2,363.2 metres (7,753 ft) | Attabad, Gojal Tehsil, Hunza District | With the area of about 13.5 square km it the largest lake of Gilgit-Baltistan. Also known as Hunza Lake the lake was created in January 2010 due to massive landslides blocking Hunza River. | [6] |
| Barah Lake |  |
4,512 metres (14,803 ft) | Barah Valley, Ghanche District | Barah lake referred to two lakes in the mountain of Barah town. The area of this lake is 0.21 km2 | |
| Bashkiri Lake I (Satrangi Lake) |  |
3,214.7 metres (10,547 ft) | Naltar Valley, Gilgit District | One of the four major alpine lakes of Naltar Valley. It is the most prominent and the largest lakes of the valley. The name 'Satrangi' means 'seven-colored' in Urdu, so called because of the many shades of blue and green visible on the surface of the lake due to the moss, aquatic plants and roots of the trees in and around the lake. | |
| Batura Lake | 2,900 metres (9,500 ft) | Batura Valley, Hunza District | The Lake lies in the Upper Hunza region of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. It is just north of the massifs of Batura, at 7,795 metres (25,574 ft), and Passu, at 7,500 metres (24,600 ft). The glacier flows west to east. | ||
| Borith Lake |  |
2,600 metres (8,500 ft) | Borith, Gojal Tehsil, Hunza District | Borith Lake is a saline water lake, located to the north of Ghulkin Glacier in a village near Hussaini, Gojal Tehsil, in the upper Hunza. | |
| Dakholi Lake |  |
4,771.1 metres (15,653 ft) | Khaplu Valley, Ghanche District | Area of Dakholi Lake as calculated by QT at ArcGIS Esri is 0.07 km2 as of September 2020. | |
| Darkush Lake | around 3,352.8 metres (11,000 ft) | Nagar Valley, Nagar District | |||
| Dirlay Lake | 2,747.0 metres (9,012.5 ft) | Astore Valley, Astore District | |||
| Ghanche Lake | 4,599.9 metres (15,092 ft) | Khaplu Valley, Ghanche District | Ghanche lake is the source of ghanche stream that waters khaplu town. The area of Ghanche Lake calculated by Arc GIS as of September 2020 by QT is 0.16 km2. | ||
| Ghorashe Lake | 2,862.2 metres (9,390 ft) | Kharmang Valley, Kharmang District | |||
| Handarap Lake |  |
3,285 metres (10,778 ft) | Shandoor, Ghizer District | Also known as Shandoor Lake. | |
| Hasanabad Lake | 2,750 metres (9,020 ft) | Hassanabad Valley, Hunza District | Hasanabad lake also known as Shispare lake, located in Hassanbad valley off Hunza, formed due to blockage of Shispare Glacier, thus forming a lake having 1.4 km in length. The area of this lake is 0.35 km2( growing day by day). It is 2 hours hike from hassanabad bridge, from where you can go to Batura (7795m), Shispare (7611m), Muchu Chhish (7452m) and many other 7000m mountains. | ||
| Hrkolong Lake | 4,126 metres (13,537 ft) | Khaplu Valley, Ghanche District | Hrkolong lake is the source of Hnajuluba stream that waters khaplu, Surmo and youchung broq (high steppes fields). | ||
| Khalti Lake |  |
2,227.8 metres (7,309 ft) | Khalti, Ghizer District | [7] | |
| Katpanah Lake |  |
2,190 metres (7,190 ft) | Katpanah, Skardu District | The only lake in Skardu city. | |
| Naltar Lakes |  |
between 3,214.8 metres (10,547 ft) and 3,268.5 metres (10,723 ft) | Naltar Valley, Gilgit District | These are at least seven lakes in the valley. The major lake is called 'Satrangi Lake, meaning seven-colored Lake. | [8] |
| Naqpo Rzingbo | 4,094.8 metres (13,434 ft) | Tormik Valley, Rondu District | A remote lake high up in the Tormik Valley at an elevation of over 4,000 meters. It is accessible only by a half a day of trekking from the village of Dunsa in the valley below. The name means 'black lake' in the Balti language. | ||
| Lower Kachura Lake |  |
2,500 metres (8,200 ft) | Kachura, Skardu District | The lake is also known as Shangrila Lake and is located at a drive of about 20 minutes from Skardu town. Shangrila was named after a book titled Lost Horizon by James Hilton. Shangri-la is a Chinese word meaning "Heaven on earth". | [9] |
| Paristan Lake | 4,767 metres (15,640 ft) | Skardu Valley, Skardu District | |||
| Phander Lake |  |
2,907.6 metres (9,539 ft) | Phander, Gupis-Yasin District | ||
| Rama Lake |  |
2,600 metres (8,500 ft) | Rama, Astore District | Rama Lake is located nine kilometers away from the valley of Astore in Northern Areas. | [10] |
| Rush Lake |  |
4,693 metres (15,397 ft) | Nagar Valley, Nagar District | Rush Lake is a high altitude lake located near Rush Pari Peak. At over 4,694 meters, Rush is the highest lake in Pakistan and one of the highest alpine lakes in the world. It is located about 15 km north of Miar Peak and Spantik (Golden Peak), which are in the Nagar valley. | [5][11] |
| Satpara Lake |  |
2,636 metres (8,648 ft) | Satpara, Skardu District | Satpara Lake is located in Skardu Valley and is one of the (Area=4.5square km, 2nd largest of gilgit baltistan)largest fresh water lakes in Pakistan. It supplies water for the town of Skardu. | [12] |
| Sheosar Lake |  |
4,142 metres (13,589 ft) | Deosai Plains, Skardu District | Sheosar Lake is situated in the Deosai Plateau, which is one of the highest plateaus of the world. | [5] |
| Shimshal Lakes | 4,755 metres (15,600 ft) | Shimshal Valley, Gojal Tehsil, Hunza District | There are 2 lakes an elevation of 4,755 metres (15,600 ft), making them the second highest lakes in Pakistan. The lakes are locally known as big lake and small lake in the Wakhi language. These lakes are almost 5 days trekking from the Shimshal village and lie in the region of Pamir, which is very close to the Chinese border with Pakistan. Almost the entirety of Shimshal valley is crossed to reach them, including passing through Shimshal pass at over 4,700 meters before Shuwerth. | ||
| Upper Kachura Lake |  |
2,500 metres (8,200 ft) | Kachura, Skardu District | The lake is surrounded with wild apricot gardens and has a depth of around 70 meters. Due to rough terrain of the surrounding area, this lake is not well explored. | |
| Karambar Lake |  |
4,272 metres (14,016 ft) | Broghil Valley, Ghizer District | Karambar Lake is the 33rd highest lakes in the world. The approximate length of the lake is 3.9 km, width is 2 km and, average depth is 52m. | [5][13] |
| Zharba Lake | ![](#/media/File:"Jarbaso".jpg) |
2,500 metres (8,200 ft) | Shigar Valley, Shigar District | The only lake in Shigar valley. |
Azad Kashmir
| Name | Image | Elevation | Location | Description | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saral Lake |  |
4,100 metres (13,500 ft) | Neelam Valley | This lake can be accessed from Sharda, Neelam valley and Kaghan Valley. | [14] |
| Baghsar Lake | 975 metres (3,199 ft) | Samahni Valley, Bhimber District | The lake is nearly half a kilometer long and overlooks the Bandala Valley. | ||
| Chitta Katha Lake |  |
3,962 metres (12,999 ft) | Shonter Valley | Chitta Katha Lake is located in Shounter Valley of Azad Kashmir. | |
| Ganga Lake | Bagh District | ||||
| Ratti Gali Lake |  |
3,700 metres (12,100 ft) | Neelam Valley | The lake is accessible from Dowarian by a 19 kilometers (12 mi) hiking trek. Dowarian is the base camp to this lake. | [15] |
| Shonter Lake |  |
Neelum Valley | This is a small lake located in the Azad Kashmir. | ||
| Subri Lake | Muzaffarabad | Subri lake, also known as Langarpura Lake, is situated 10 kilometers out of Muzaffarabad, where the Jhelum River widens to form the lake. |
Punjab
| Name | Image | Elevation | Location | Description | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swaik Lake |  |
Khandowa Village Kallar Kahar Tehsil, Chakwal District | Swaik Lake also known as Khandowa Lake is a lake situated at 10 km from the Tehsil Kallar Kahar, Chakwal District and 30 kilometers southwest of Chakwal along the motorway. | ||
| Namal Lake |  |
Mianwali | Namal Lake is located in Namal Valley, in Mianwali. The lake is spread over an area of 5.5 km2 and was built in 1913 after the construction of Namal Dam. | [16] | |
| Uchhali Lake |  |
1,522 metres (4,993 ft) | Soan Sakaser Valley, Salt Range | The lake is located in the southern salt range and has brackish water. | [17] |
| Kallar Kahar |  |
Chakwal District | The salt water lake is located near Salt Range in Chakwal District, 125 km from Rawalpindi. | ||
| Jahlar Lake | 828 metres (2,717 ft) | Soon Valley | Jahlar Lake is part of Uchhali Wetland Complex in Soon Valley | ||
| Khabikki Lake |  |
Khushab District | It is a salt water lake located in the southern Salt Range. The lake is named after a nearby village, Khabikki. | [18] |
Sindh
| Name | Image | Elevation | Location | Description | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drigh Lake |  |
Qambar Shahdadkot District, Sindh | Drigh Lake is Located in Qambar Shahdadkot District in Sindh, Pakistan, It is 29 km away from Larkana city and 7 km away from Qambar town. | [19] | |
| Shakoor Lake | Tharparkar District | Shakoor Lake is situated on the border between India and Pakistan, its area ranges from 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi) | |||
| Manchar Lake |  |
34 metres (112 ft) | Jamshoro District | Lake Manchar is the largest freshwater lake in Pakistan and one of the largest in Asia. It is located west of the Indus River in Sindh. The area of the lake fluctuates with the seasons from as little as 350 km2 to 520 km2. The lake collects water from numerous small streams in the Kirthar Mountains and empties into the Indus River. | [20] |
| Hadero Lake | Thatta District | Hadero is a brackish water lake in Sindh. The lake was declared wildlife sanctuary in 1977. The lake has a surface area of 1321 hectares. | |||
| Haleji Lake |  |
Thatta District | The lake is located at about 70 km from Karachi and is the largest water fowl reserve in Asia. | [22] | |
| Hamal Lake | Qamber Shahdadkot District | Hamal Lake is located in Qamber Shahdadkot District in Sindh, Pakistan. | [23] | ||
| Keenjhar Lake |  |
21 metres (69 ft) | Thatta District | The lake is also called Kalri Lake and is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Pakistan. The Sindhi legend of Noori Jam Tamachi took place around the lake, and to this day there is a shrine in the middle of the lake marking Noori's grave. | [24] |
Balochistan
| Name | Image | Elevation | Location | Description | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanna Lake |  |
1,898 metres (6,227 ft) | Quetta District | Hanna Lake is located 10 km from Quetta, near Urak Valley in Balochistan. | [24] |
KPK
| Name | Image | Elevation | Location | Description | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bashkargol Lake |  |
3,652 metres (11,982 ft) | Chitral Valley | Bashkargol Lake is a high-altitude lake (3,652 metres (11,982 ft)) located in the Laspur Valley in Upper Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is near Thalo Zom in the Hindukush range. Roughly 22 kilometer hike from the village of Sor Laspur. | [25] |
| Pyala Lake |  |
3,410 metres (11,190 ft) | Kaghan Valley | Pyala Lake is a very small lake besides the Kunhar River at Jalkhad. Since the lake looks more like a bowl Urde:Pyala (پیالہ) hence it is called Pyala Lake. | |
| Siri Lake |  |
2,590 metres (8,500 ft) | Kaghan Valley | Siri Lake is situated near Shogran in Siri, on the way to Payee in Kaghan Valley, Pakistan. | |
| Spin Khwar Lake |  |
Swat Valley | |||
| Saiful Muluk |  |
3,224 metres (10,577 ft) | Kaghan Valley | The lake is located in the northern end of Kaghan Valley. The lake has total surface area of over 2.5 square kilometer. The lake is famous for its fairytale of Saiful Maluk | [26] |
| Dudipatsar Lake |  |
3,800 metres (12,500 ft) | Kaghan Valley | The lake lies in the extreme north of Kaghan Valley at a height of 3,800 metres (12,500 ft). The term dudi in Urdu means white and sar means lake. | [27] |
| Dudibach Sar | Kaghan Valley | ||||
| Mahodand Lake |  |
2,900 metres (9,500 ft) | Kalam Valley | The lake is located 40 km from Kalam Valley in the valley of Ushu. | [28] |
| Ansoo Lake |  |
4,126 metres (13,537 ft) | Kaghan Valley | Ansoo Lake is a high-altitude lake (4,126 metres (13,537 ft)) located in the Kaghan Valley in Mansehra District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is near Malika Parbat in the Himalayan range. | [29] |
| Kundol Lake |  |
2,743 metres (8,999 ft) | Utror, Swat Valley | This lake is located in the north of Utror via Ladu valley. | |
| Lulusar Lake |  |
3,410 metres (11,190 ft) | Kaghan Valley | The lake is the main source of the Kunhar River and has a baby lake beside it. The word "sar" means "lake" in Shina. | [30] |
| Payee Lake |  |
2,895 metres (9,498 ft) | Kaghan Valley | Payee Lake is located near Shogran in Payee, surrounded by the Makra Peak, Malika Parbat, and the mountains of Kashmir. | [31] |
Artificial lakes and reservoirs
| Name | Image | Elevation | Location | Description | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banjosa Lake |  |
1,981 metres (6,499 ft) | Poonch District, Azad Kashmir | Banjosa is an artificial lake and a tourist attraction near the city of Rawalakot in District Poonch in Azad Kashmir. | [32] |
| Chotiari Lake | Sanghar District, Sindh | Chotiari Lake is an artificial water reservoir situated 35 km away from the Sanghar town in Sanghar District, Sindh. | [33] | ||
| Hub Lake |  |
Karachi and Lasbela District on Sindh and Balochistan border | Hub Lake is an artificial reservoir 56 km away from Karachi on Sindh and Balochistan border. | [34] | |
| Khanpur Lake |  |
Khanpur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
28°64′91″N 70°65′14″E |
It is situated in Khanpur village, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Haripur. Famous for Water sports and Paragliding. | [35] | |
| Mangla Lake |  |
Mirpur District, Azad Kashmir | Mangla Lake is an artificial reservoir near Mirpur city in Mirpur District, Azad Kashmir | [36] | |
| Rawal Lake |  |
Islamabad | Rawal Lake is an artificial reservoir in Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan. The lake is spread over an area of 8.8 km2 and is one of the major sources of water for the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Rawal Lake is located within an isolated section of the Malpur village near Margalla Hills National Park. | [37][38] | |
| Simli Lake |  |
Islamabad | Simli Lake is located 30 km from Islamabad. The lake is formed from the melting snow and natural springs of Murree Hills. Simli Lake is the largest drinking water source for the residents of Islamabad. | [39] | |
| Tanda Lake |  |
Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Tanda Lake is formed from Tanda Dam in Kohat District on Toi River. | [citation needed] | |
| Tarbela Lake |  |
Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Tarbela Lake is an artificial reservoir in the Haripur District of North-West Frontier Province. It is near Tarbela Township in the Tarbela range. The name of the lake comes from town of Tarbela in which it is located (Hindko Black Forest). | [40][41] |
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lakes of Pakistan.