Hanna Lake
| Hanna Lake | |
|---|---|
 Hanna Lake | |
| Location | Hanna Urak Vallay (Quetta) Pakistan. |
| Coordinates | 30°15′N 67°06′E / 30.250°N 67.100°ECoordinates: 30°15′N 67°06′E / 30.250°N 67.100°E |
| Basin countries | Pakistan |
Hanna Lake (Urdu: ہنہ جھيل) is a lake near Quetta city in Balochistan Province, in southwestern Pakistan.
Geography
The lake is located a little short of the place where the Urak Valley begins and 14 km from Quetta. The reservoir was constructed during the British Colonial era in 1894, and is one of the main attractions in the city.
Features
Golden fish in the lake come swimming right up to the edge of the lake. There is a lakeside restaurant with picnic tables shaded by pine trees. At one end, the irrigation dam rises out of the depths like battlements of a fort, and on the eastern part the Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy (HDWSA) the only rowing, canoeing, kayaking and sailing training center in Balochistan Province.
The HLDA / HDWSA and Merck has planted various trees for the beautification and protection of environment in Hanna Lake Mountains.
History
In 1894, the small action dam Surrpull (Red Bridge) was constructed on main Urak road for diverting of water into Hanna Lake coming from the Zarghoon Mountains range, of streams, snow melting and rains through main channel.
Present day
This channel nowadays needs repairs and is wasting water and recently the water level is deadly low, up to three feet, and thousands of fish are in danger. There is also a water channel which was constructed the same time by the British to convert the snow and rain water near Spin Kaarez coming from Murdar mount to surrpull for filling of water in this lake. This channel was destroyed by the heavy flood in 1976 and still not constructed and all the snow and rain water is going waste till now and resultant the Hanna Lake was fully dried in 1999 to January 2005. If Hanna Lake Development Authority (HLDA) the custodians of Hanna Lake did not perform any action to bring water through surrpull the lake will be soon dry again.
Dry lake
From year 2000-2010 Hanna Lake dried up and the natives along with hundreds of migrated birds were in trouble.
Full lake
However, in 2011 the lake re-filled and once again gave rise to flora and fauna in its environment. The turquoise waters of the lake provide a rich contrast to the sandy brown of the hills in the background. One can promenade on the terraces or hire a boat and paddle on the lake and round the island in the middle.
Public transport
Public wagon service operates from city bus station side by the City District Government office. The transport can also be hired through the PTDC Tourist Information Center, Muslim Hotel, Jinnah Road Quetta.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hanna Lake. |