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Pakistan is home to many natural andman-made lakes and reservoirs. The largest lake in Pakistan,[1] and also one of the largest inSouth Asia,[2] is theManchar Lake. The lake is spread over an area of over 260 square kilometres (100 square miles).[3]
The highest lakes in Pakistan are theParistan 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 theKarambar 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 Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral region), many of these lakes are still nameless and undiscovered to even the local population.
| Name | Image | Elevation | Location | Description | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attabad Lake |  | 2,363.2 metres (7,753 ft) | Attabad,Gojal Tehsil,Hunza District 36°20′12.62″N74°52′3.12″E / 36.3368389°N 74.8675333°E /36.3368389; 74.8675333 (Attabad Lake) | 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 blockingHunza River. | [6] |
| Barah Lake |  | 4,512 metres (14,803 ft) | Barah Valley,Ghanche District 35°05′46″N76°14′00″E / 35.095989°N 76.233240°E /35.095989; 76.233240 (Barah Lake) | 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 36°13′53.09″N74°06′23.73″E / 36.2314139°N 74.1065917°E /36.2314139; 74.1065917 (Bashkiri Lake I) | 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 36°25′51″N74°51′46″E / 36.430863°N 74.862773°E /36.430863; 74.862773 (Borith Lake) | Borith Lake is a saline water lake, located to the north ofGhulkin Glacier in a village nearHussaini, Gojal Tehsil, in the upperHunza. | |
| Dakholi Lake |  | 4,771.1 metres (15,653 ft) | Khaplu Valley,Ghanche District 35°03′51″N76°22′41″E / 35.06417°N 76.37815°E /35.06417; 76.37815 (Dakholi Lake) | 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 35°02′55″N74°49′43″E / 35.0485434°N 74.828608°E /35.0485434; 74.828608 (Dirlay Lake) | |||
| Ghanche Lake | 4,599.9 metres (15,092 ft) | Khaplu Valley, Ghanche District 35°04′28″N76°17′37″E / 35.07457°N 76.29370°E /35.07457; 76.29370 (Ghanche Lake) | 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 34°59′06″N76°12′34″E / 34.98489°N 76.20958°E /34.98489; 76.20958 (Ghorashe Lake) | |||
| Handarap Lake |  | 3,285 metres (10,778 ft) | Shandoor, Ghizer District 36°04′05″N72°32′46″E / 36.068°N 72.546°E /36.068; 72.546 (Handarap Lake) | 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 inHassanbad 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 toBatura (7795m),Shispare (7611m),Muchu Chhish (7452m) and many other 7000m mountains. | ||
| Hrkolong Lake | 4,126 metres (13,537 ft) | Khaplu Valley, Ghanche District 35°05′04″N76°21′24″E / 35.08440°N 76.35653°E /35.08440; 76.35653 (Hrkolong Lake) | 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 36°14′53″N73°21′48″E / 36.2479302°N 73.3633701°E /36.2479302; 73.3633701 (Khalti Lake) | [7] | |
| Katpanah Lake |  | 2,190 metres (7,190 ft) | Katpanah,Skardu District 35°18′58″N75°34′42″E / 35.3160556°N 75.5784722°E /35.3160556; 75.5784722 (Katpanah Lake) | 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 35°39′31.35″N75°14′19.09″E / 35.6587083°N 75.2386361°E /35.6587083; 75.2386361 (Naqpo Rzingbo) | 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 35°25′40″N75°27′16″E / 35.42778°N 75.45444°E /35.42778; 75.45444 (Lower Kachura Lake) | The lake is also known asShangrila Lake and is located at a drive of about 20 minutes from Skardu town.Shangrila was named after a book titledLost Horizon byJames Hilton.Shangri-la is a Chinese word meaning "Heaven on earth". | [9] |
| Paristan Lake | 4,767 metres (15,640 ft) | Skardu Valley, Skardu District 35°24′23″N72°24′50″E / 35.4065°N 72.4138°E /35.4065; 72.4138 (Paristan Lake) | |||
| Phander Lake |  | 2,907.6 metres (9,539 ft) | Phander,Gupis-Yasin District 36°10′23″N72°56′50″E / 36.173123°N 72.9472983°E /36.173123; 72.9472983 (Phander Lake) | ||
| Rama Lake |  | 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) | Rama, Astore District 35°19′51″N74°47′8″E / 35.33083°N 74.78556°E /35.33083; 74.78556 (Rama Lake) | Rama Lake is located nine kilometers away from the valley ofAstore in Northern Areas. | [10] |
| Rush Lake |  | 4,693 metres (15,397 ft) | Nagar Valley, Nagar District 36°7′50″N74°55′57″E / 36.13056°N 74.93250°E /36.13056; 74.93250 (Rush Lake) | Rush Lake is a high altitudelake located nearRush Pari Peak. At over 4,694 meters, Rush is the highest lake in Pakistan and one of the highestalpine lakes in the world. It is located about 15 km north ofMiar Peak andSpantik (Golden Peak), which are in the Nagar valley. | [5][11] |
| Satpara Lake |  | 2,636 metres (8,648 ft) | Satpara, Skardu District 35°14′2″N75°37′53″E / 35.23389°N 75.63139°E /35.23389; 75.63139 (Satpara Lake) | Satpara Lake is located inSkardu 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 34°59′30.35″N75°14′43.42″E / 34.9917639°N 75.2453944°E /34.9917639; 75.2453944 (Sheosar Lake) | Sheosar Lake is situated in theDeosai 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 35°26′48″N75°26′44″E / 35.44667°N 75.44556°E /35.44667; 75.44556 (Upper Kachura Lake) | The lake is surrounded withwildapricot 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 36°53′03.26″N73°42′44.03″E / 36.8842389°N 73.7122306°E /36.8842389; 73.7122306 (Karambar Lake) | 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 |  | 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) | Shigar Valley,Shigar District | The only lake in Shigar valley. |
| 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 fromLarkana city and 7 km away fromQambar town. | [19] | |
| Shakoor Lake | Tharparkar District 24°15′28″N69°04′20″E / 24.2577°N 69.0721°E /24.2577; 69.0721 (Shakoor Lake) | Shakoor Lake is situated on the border betweenIndia andPakistan, its area ranges from 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi) | |||
| Manchar Lake |  | 34 metres (112 ft) | Jamshoro District 26°25′00″N67°39′00″E / 26.4166°N 67.65°E /26.4166; 67.65 (Manchar Lake) | Lake Manchar is the largest freshwater lake in Pakistan and one of the largest inAsia. It is located west of theIndus River inSindh. 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 theKirthar Mountains and empties into theIndus River. | [20] |
| Hadero Lake | Thatta District 24°49′42″N67°51′37″E / 24.82833°N 67.86028°E /24.82833; 67.86028 (Hadero Lake) | Hadero is a brackish water lake inSindh. The lake was declaredwildlife sanctuary in 1977. The lake has a surface area of 1321hectares. | |||
| Haleji Lake |  | Thatta District 24°48′10″N67°46′38″E / 24.80278°N 67.77722°E /24.80278; 67.77722 (Haleji Lake) | The lake is located at about 70 km fromKarachi and is the largestwater fowlreserve inAsia. | [22] | |
| Hamal Lake | Qamber Shahdadkot District 27°26′56″N67°37′55″E / 27.449°N 67.632°E /27.449; 67.632 (Hamal Lake) | Hamal Lake is located in Qamber Shahdadkot District in Sindh, Pakistan. | [23] | ||
| Keenjhar Lake |  | 21 metres (69 ft) | Thatta District 24°57′N68°03′E / 24.950°N 68.050°E /24.950; 68.050 (Keenjhar Lake) | The lake is also calledKalri Lake and is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Pakistan. TheSindhi legend ofNoori 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] |
| Name | Image | Elevation | Location | Description | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanna Lake |  | 1,898 metres (6,227 ft) | Quetta District 30°15′N67°06′E / 30.250°N 67.100°E /30.250; 67.100 (Hanna Lake) | Hanna Lake is located 10 km from Quetta, nearUrak Valley in Balochistan. | [24] |
