Chotiari wetlands complex
Sights/Wetlands
Chotiari Wetlands Complex is situated about 30-35 km northeast of Sanghar town (District Sanghar, Sindh). It covers an area of about 18,000 ha and is located at an elevation of 60 m above sea level. The complex includes the Thar Desert sand hills on east, north, north-east and south-east, and Nara Canal on the west and south. The reservoir comprises many fresh and brackish water bodies (1-200 ha.) such as Gun, Wari, Jajur, Phuleil, Seriao Naro, Khor, Jadpur, Meena, Waguwala, Sanjaran and Bholo.
Hot arid climate prevails in the area. The average maximum daily temperature may exceed 40°C during May and June. The coolest months are December to February, when the maximum daily temperatures range from 25 to 30°C. Rainfall mostly occurs between July and August and averages 40 mm monthly. The wetlands of the area include permanent freshwater lakes, seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes, seasonal/intermittent freshwater marshes/pools, irrigated land including irrigation channels and rice fields, and water storage areas. The reservoir is managed by Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA).
The complex provides refuge to several threatened and near threatened species. These include Critically Endangered: caracal and white- backed vulture; Endangered: Indian wolf; Vulnerable: hog deer, marbled teal, Pallas’s fish eagle, imperial eagle, saker falcon, houbara bustard, Sindh babbler and Indian marsh crocodile. The Nara Canal Wetlands Area, which includes Soonhari (now part of Chotiari Resevoir), Sadhori and Sanghriaro Lakes of the complex is an important bird area.
Chotiar Dam is located at the tail end of Nara canal, near the Achro city (the door step to the Thar desert), on north east side of Sanghar. The main purpose of the dam is storing water and irrigating Thar Desert. Chotiari Dam can be accessed from two different sides. One is to reach Jamrao Head, (locally called “Mundh Jamrao”) which is approximately 80 km from Nawabshah city, and then take road along with Ranto Canal, a tributary of Nara Canal to reach north embankment. The second option is to go to Sanghar city and then reach Achro, the official entrance of Chotiari reservoir.
Coordinates: 26.1° N 69.4 ° E
For more details: Chotiari Dam
Hot arid climate prevails in the area. The average maximum daily temperature may exceed 40°C during May and June. The coolest months are December to February, when the maximum daily temperatures range from 25 to 30°C. Rainfall mostly occurs between July and August and averages 40 mm monthly. The wetlands of the area include permanent freshwater lakes, seasonal/intermittent freshwater lakes, seasonal/intermittent freshwater marshes/pools, irrigated land including irrigation channels and rice fields, and water storage areas. The reservoir is managed by Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA).
The complex provides refuge to several threatened and near threatened species. These include Critically Endangered: caracal and white- backed vulture; Endangered: Indian wolf; Vulnerable: hog deer, marbled teal, Pallas’s fish eagle, imperial eagle, saker falcon, houbara bustard, Sindh babbler and Indian marsh crocodile. The Nara Canal Wetlands Area, which includes Soonhari (now part of Chotiari Resevoir), Sadhori and Sanghriaro Lakes of the complex is an important bird area.
Chotiar Dam is located at the tail end of Nara canal, near the Achro city (the door step to the Thar desert), on north east side of Sanghar. The main purpose of the dam is storing water and irrigating Thar Desert. Chotiari Dam can be accessed from two different sides. One is to reach Jamrao Head, (locally called “Mundh Jamrao”) which is approximately 80 km from Nawabshah city, and then take road along with Ranto Canal, a tributary of Nara Canal to reach north embankment. The second option is to go to Sanghar city and then reach Achro, the official entrance of Chotiari reservoir.
Coordinates: 26.1° N 69.4 ° E
For more details: Chotiari Dam
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