Hanna Lake

Hanna Lake

Sunset over Hanna Lake
Location Zarghoon Range,[1] Urak Valley Quetta, Pakistan.
Coordinates 30°15′N 67°06′E / 30.250°N 67.100°E / 30.250; 67.100Coordinates: 30°15′N 67°06′E / 30.250°N 67.100°E / 30.250; 67.100
Type Reservoir
Basin countries Pakistan
Surface area 27 acres (0.11 km2)[1]:2
Settlements Quetta
Pakistan Flag in Hanna Lake.
Ali Khilji and Abubakar Durrani Kayaking in front of Hanna Lake Bridge Wall constructed by Great Britain in 1894.
Pakistan National K1 Champion Mohammad Abubakar Durrani with Kayak paddlers heroes of Pakistan in snow kayak training 2012 (Hanna Lake)

Hanna Lake (Urdu: ہنہ جھيل‎) is a lake near Quetta city in Balochistan Province in southwestern Pakistan

Geography

Hanna Lake is in the hills close towhere the Urak Valley begins ten kilometres east of Quetta city. The reservoir was constructed in 1894 during the British Colonial era on the land of local tribesmen, and is one of the main attractions in the city and a great historical bridge wall between two mountains the depths like battlements of a fort for storing of water.

Features

There is a lakeside restaurant with picnic tables shaded by pine trees at the end of the river where families can enjoy the food and weather on the eastern part the Hayat Durrani Water Sports Academy (HDWSA) the only rowing, canoeing, kayaking and sailing training centre in Balochistan Province with provision of rough swimming facility. Hanna Lake is one of the most visited and accessible lake in Balochista.

History

In 1894, the small action dam Surrpull (Red Bridge) was constructed on main Urak road to control flood and divert water catastrophically into Hanna Lake coming from the Zarghoon and Murdar Mountains streams, snow melting and rains through main its main canal,

In 1970 heavy flood destroyed the Murdar Mountains recharge linked canal on way to surrpull near Spin Kaarrez road which has not been (Restored) reconstructed till date.

Presently on May 2016 the heavy flood filled this small action dam Surrpull with mud and stones resultantly all the streams and floods water are going waste and there is no chance to regulate water conservancy to Hanna lake without the Restoration, Desilting of surrpull and both main cannels on the other hand the water level in Hanna Lake is going deadly low the natural eco system wild life, environment of the surrounding, natives along with hundreds of migrated birds and thousands of fish are and the future of the Athletes of Rowing / Canoeing in danger and very soon the Hanna Lake will be fully dried like in 1999 to January 2005 and in 2010.

The environmental scientists, Speleologists and the Conservationist are looking the future of the lake in most dangerous condition and the current harmful environment situations will badly effect the natural eco system, environment, underground water level of the surroundings, trees, wild life, hundreds of migrated birds and thousands of fish in Hanna Lake and valleys.

1990 Hanna Lake boat disaster

On 6 July 1990, 40 people were killed and 8 injured when an overcrowded boat capsized in Hanna Lake. Most of the victims were on holiday. Another boat was used to rescue the victims.[2]

Present day

This channel nowadays needs repairs and is wasting water and recently the water level has become deadly low, up to three feet causing danger for thousands of fish. There is also a water channel which was constructed at the same time by the British to convert the snow and rain water near Spin Kaarez, coming from Murdar Mount, as surplus for filling the water in this lake. The channel was destroyed by a heavy flood in 1976 and has still not been re-constructed. The loss of the snow and rain water was wasted causing Hanna Lake to fully dry up between 1999 and January 2005. If the Hanna Lake Development Authority (HLDA), the custodians of Hanna Lake, do not take any measures to bring water through the surplus channel the lake will be soon dry again.

Dry lake

From year 2000-2010 Hanna Lake dried up[3] 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 bus service operates from city bus station side by the City District Government office. The transport can also be hired through the PTDC Tourist Information Centre and local hotels.

References

  1. 1 2 Sheikh Saeed Ahmad; Tahira Yasmin. "VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION ALONG HANNA LAKE, BALUCHISTAN USING ORDINATION TECHNIQUES" (PDF). Pakistan Journal of Botany: 2(864).
  2. ↑ "Boat capsizes, killing 40". The Hour; Pakistan Times. Quetta, Pakistan. The Associated Press. Jul 7, 1990. p. 2. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  3. ↑ Jerome Delay (October 4, 2001). "Dead Lake". The Day. Quetta, Pakistan. Associated Press. p. A2. Retrieved 20 August 2016.

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