The freshwater Manchhar Lake in Sindh is the largest lake in Asia, a beautiful combination of natural beauty and history. It flows in Dadu district, west of the Indus River. Manchhar Lake is located about 280 kilometers from Karachi. Nothing can be said definitively about when this lake came into existence, but it is said that Manchhar has a longer history than Mohan Jododro and Harappa. So it can be said that this lake has been here since the Stone Age and is located slightly higher than the Indus River. Therefore, when there is a flood in the river, the excess water of the river breaks the protective embankments and spreads throughout the area. But when the flood of the river ends, the excess water of the lake returns to the Indus River and Manchhar Lake returns to its original state.
The area of this lake varies from 350 square kilometers to 520 square kilometers in different seasons. Various rivers flowing from the Kir Thar Mountains are responsible for the formation of this lake. Water is also poured into this lake from the Indus River.
This lake is home to numerous birds and in winter, migratory birds from Siberia also come here to spend the winter. Freshwater fish are also found here in large numbers. However, due to the salt water of the Sem Nala being poured into the lake, it is prone to pollution and the wildlife and aquatic life here are severely affected.
It is also a recreational place and many people come here for fun during the holidays.
Interestingly, during the winter season, the water level of Manchhar Lake is quite low, and a large part of it dries up. Many crops are sown in it, including mustard, cotton, rice, and wheat. The people here not only fulfill their needs with these crops, but they are also sold in nearby markets. The people here have been demanding for a long time that a dam be built here so that millions of acres of land in Juhi and Sehona tehsils can be made cultivable.