Keetham Lake - Revision history

MyIPL: cleanup

2025-12-03T16:19:58Z

cleanup

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:49, 3 December 2025
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			{{Short description\|Lake in India}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=May 2018}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=May 2018}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=May 2018}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=May 2018}}
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	~~'''Keetham lake'''~~, ~~also known~~ as ~~the '''Sur Sarovar'''~~, is a ~~scenic [[~~lake~~]] just outside [[Agra]] on~~ the [[Agra]] - [[Delhi]] highway (NH 2). ~~Alongside the Keetham Lake is the [[~~Agra Bear Rescue Facility]], ~~which is~~ a [[Sloth ~~bear]] rescue facility~~ dedicated to rehabilitating previously ~~enslaved '[[Dancing bear\|~~dancing bears~~]]'.<ref name=~~"~~:12">{{Cite book\|last=Shefali Apte\|url=http://archive~~.~~org/details/lonelyplanetguidetoindia_202003_300_K\|title=Lonely Planet Guide To India}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web\|title=Bears\|url=https://wildlifesos.org/our-work/bear/\|access-date=5 October~~ 2020\|website=wildlifesos.org}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web\|title=Agra Bear Rescue Facility\|url=https://wildlifesos.org/locations/agra-bear-rescue-facility/\|access-date=5 October 2020\|website=wildlifesos.org}}</ref> The lake has been ~~designated~~ as a ~~protected [[~~Ramsar site~~]] since 2020~~.~~<ref name="RSIS"/>~~		Sur Sarovar, often referred to as Keetham Lake, is a picturesque lake off the Agra-Delhi national highway (NH-19). The Agra Bear Rescue Facility, a facility for saving Sloth bears dedicated to rehabilitating previously captured "dancing bears," is located next to it. Since 2020, the lake has been recognized as a Ramsar site that is protected.

			There are over two dozen species of resident and migratory birds living in this bird sanctuary. This charming retreat for the adventure-seeking tourist has a large lake and numerous man-made islands that add to its splendour. The form of Keetham Lake is pentagonal.

	==Location==		==Location==
	This scenic lake, is about 20 km from [[Agra]] and 12 km from sikandra is located within the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary. Keetham Lake is linked by Railway track at Keetham Railway Station and was declared as National Bird Sanctuary on 27 March 1991 by U.P. Forest Department. The riverine belt of [[River Yamuna]] surrounds the area of Sur-Sarovar.		This scenic lake, is about 20 km from [[Agra]] and 12 km from sikandra is located within the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary. Keetham Lake is linked by Railway track at Keetham Railway Station and was declared as National Bird Sanctuary on 27 March 1991 by U.P. Forest Department. The riverine belt of [[River Yamuna]] surrounds the area of Sur-Sarovar.

	The entire lake is formed in a catchment area of 7.13 ~~km²~~. Keetham Lake is pentagonal in shape. There are artificially created islands for shelter and breeding grounds for the [[migratory birds]]. The best thing is that is placed on the way of Delhi and tourist can visit during their journey to Agra.		The entire lake is formed in a catchment area of 7.13 km<sup>2</sup>. Keetham Lake is pentagonal in shape. There are artificially created islands for shelter and breeding grounds for the [[migratory birds]]. The best thing is that is placed on the way of Delhi and tourist can visit during their journey to Agra.

	==Climate==		==Climate==
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	==Water Management==		==Water Management==
	The raw water for Keetham Lake is obtained from [[Agra Canal]] originating from [[Okhla]] barrage on River [[Yamuna]] in [[Delhi]]. At Delhi Agra road, the Agra Canal water is diverted through Jodhpur branch near Anand Engineering College located about 2 km from Keetham. The lake water of Keetham is also used as raw water intake for [[Mathura Refinery]] Water Treatment Plant<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.iocl.com/aboutus/MathuraRefinery.aspx\|title = Mathura Refinery \| Petroleum Refinery \| IndianOil}}</ref> located in vicinity of Keetham Lake		The raw water for Keetham Lake is obtained from [[Agra Canal]] originating from [[Okhla]] barrage on River [[Yamuna]] in [[Delhi]]. At Delhi Agra road, the Agra Canal water is diverted through Jodhpur branch near Anand Engineering College located about 2 km from Keetham. The lake water of Keetham is also used as raw water intake for [[Mathura Refinery]] Water Treatment Plant<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.iocl.com/aboutus/MathuraRefinery.aspx\|title=Mathura Refinery \| Petroleum Refinery \| IndianOil\|access-date=19 March 2019\|archive-date=5 March 2020\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305190130/https://www.iocl.com/AboutUs/MathuraRefinery.aspx\|url-status=dead}}</ref> located in vicinity of Keetham Lake

	==Development==		==Development==
	U.P. Forest Department has created woodlands and developed shallow areas near lake, making it a natural habitat for birds nesting sites. Controversially, [[Government of Uttar Pradesh\|Uttar Pradesh Government]] has decided to reduce the [[Eco-Sensitive Zone\|Eco-sensitive zone]] limit around Keetham Lake from 10 kilometres to just 250 metres.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Environmentalists oppose move to shrink eco-zone near Taj Mahal\|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/environmenatlists-oppose-move-to-shrink-eco-zone-near-taj-mahal/16335197\|access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref>		U.P. Forest Department has created woodlands and developed shallow areas near lake, making it a natural habitat for birds nesting sites. Controversially, [[Government of Uttar Pradesh\|Uttar Pradesh Government]] has decided to reduce the [[Eco-Sensitive Zone\|Eco-sensitive zone]] limit around Keetham Lake from 10 kilometres to just 250 metres.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Environmentalists oppose move to shrink eco-zone near Taj Mahal\|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/environmenatlists-oppose-move-to-shrink-eco-zone-near-taj-mahal/16335197\|access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref>

	==~~Attractions~~==		==Wildlife==
	More than 106 species of [[Migratory bird\|migratory]] and resident birds are known to have their resting habitats at Sur Sarovar. The entire lake area gets covered by profuse growth of [[~~Aquatic_plant\|macrophytic~~]] ~~vegetation of~~ [[water hyacinth]] ~~(Eichornia sp.)~~ and [[Potamogeton]] ~~sp.~~ during [[summers]]. The water quality of Keetham lake supports wide range of [[~~Bird\|~~avifauna]] during [[winter]] season.		{{Refimprove section\|date=July 2023}}
	~~The important aquatic birds inhabiting~~ Keetham lake are:		More than 106 species of [[Migratory bird\|migratory]] and resident birds are known to have their resting habitats at Sur Sarovar. The entire lake area gets covered by profuse growth of [[aquatic_plant]]s like [[water hyacinth]] and [[Potamogeton]] species during summers. The water quality of Keetham lake supports wide range of [[avifauna]] during the winter season. Waterbirds in Keetham lake area are [[little grebe]], [[Cormorants]], [[darter]], [[grey heron]], [[purple heron]], [[cattle egret]], [[large egret]], [[little egret]], [[night heron]], [[black-necked stork]], [[white ibis]], [[Eurasian spoonbill]], [[bar-headed goose]], [[lesser whistling teal]], [[ruddy shelduck]], [[Northern pintail]], [[common teal]], [[Indian spot-billed duck]], [[gadwall]], [[wigeon]], [[shoveler]] and [[comb duck]].
	[[~~Little~~ grebe~~\|Little Grebes~~]],
	[[Cormorants]],
	[[~~Darter~~]],
	[[~~Grey Heron~~]],
	[[~~Purple Heron~~]],
	~~Paddy Bird,~~
	[[~~Cattle Egrets~~]],
	[[~~Large~~ egret~~\|Large Egrets~~]],
	~~Smaller Egrets,~~
	[[~~Little~~ egret~~\|Little Egrets~~]],
	[[~~Night Heron~~]],
	~~Indian Reef Heron,~~
	[[~~Black~~-necked stork~~\|Black necked Stork~~]],
	[[white ~~Ibis~~]],
	[[Eurasian spoonbill~~\|Eurasian Spoon Bill~~]],
	~~Greying Goose,~~
	[[~~Bar~~-headed goose~~\|Bar headed Goose~~]],
	[[~~Lesser Whistling Teal~~]],
	[[~~Ruddy Shelduck~~]],
	[[Northern ~~Pintail~~]],
	[[~~Common Teal~~]],
	[[Indian spot-billed duck~~\|Indian Spot Billed Duck~~]],
	[[~~Gadwall~~]], [[~~Wigeon~~]],
	[[~~Shoveler~~]], and
	[[~~Comb Duck~~]].

	Within ~~the~~ Sur Sarovar, Bird Sanctuary is the [[Agra Bear Rescue Facility]], which is a [[~~Sloth~~ bear]] rescue facility dedicated to rehabilitating previously enslaved '[[~~Dancing~~ bear~~\|dancing bears~~]]'. Established in 1999 by [[Wildlife SOS]] in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and others, the facility is located in an eight-hectare site. It currently houses over 170 sloth bears as well as other wildlife. Agra Bear Rescue Facility also does advanced research, disease management and provides specialised [[veterinary care]] as well as [[geriatric care]] for sloth bears. The facility is available for tours by small groups of people.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":22" /><ref name=":32" />		Within Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is the [[Agra Bear Rescue Facility]], which is a [[sloth bear]] rescue facility dedicated to rehabilitating previously enslaved '[[dancing bear]]s'. Established in 1999 by [[Wildlife SOS]] in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and others, the facility is located in an eight-hectare site. It currently houses over 170 sloth bears as well as other wildlife. Agra Bear Rescue Facility also does advanced research, disease management and provides specialised [[veterinary care]] as well as [[geriatric care]] for sloth bears. The facility is available for tours by small groups of people.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book \|last=Shefali Apte \|url=https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetguidetoindia_202003_300_K \|title=Lonely Planet Guide To India}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web \|title=Bears \|url=https://wildlifesos.org/our-work/bear/ \|access-date=5 October 2020 \|website=wildlifesos.org}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web \|title=Agra Bear Rescue Facility \|url=https://wildlifesos.org/locations/agra-bear-rescue-facility/ \|access-date=5 October 2020 \|website=wildlifesos.org}}</ref>

	==See also==		==See also==

->GreenC: /* References */

2021-09-10T02:59:15Z

References

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox lake
| name = Keetham Lake
| image =
| caption =
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Agra, India
| coords = {{coord|27.253295|N|77.843875|E|type:waterbody|display=title,inline}}
| type =
| inflow =
| pushpin_map = India Agra Administrative
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Keetham lake in Agra
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = India
| length =
| width =
| area =
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation =
| islands =
| cities =
| frozen =
| embedded = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_offname = Sur Sarovar
| designation1_date = 21 August 2020
| designation1_number = 2440<ref name="RSIS">{{Cite web|title=Sur Sarovar|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2440|access-date=14 November 2020}}</ref>}}
}}

'''Keetham lake''', also known as the '''Sur Sarovar''', is a scenic [[lake]] just outside [[Agra]] on the [[Agra]] - [[Delhi]] highway (NH 2). Alongside the Keetham Lake is the [[Agra Bear Rescue Facility]], which is a [[Sloth bear]] rescue facility dedicated to rehabilitating previously enslaved '[[Dancing bear|dancing bears]]'.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book|last=Shefali Apte|url=http://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetguidetoindia_202003_300_K|title=Lonely Planet Guide To India}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web|title=Bears|url=https://wildlifesos.org/our-work/bear/|access-date=5 October 2020|website=wildlifesos.org}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite web|title=Agra Bear Rescue Facility|url=https://wildlifesos.org/locations/agra-bear-rescue-facility/|access-date=5 October 2020|website=wildlifesos.org}}</ref> The lake has been designated as a protected [[Ramsar site]] since 2020.<ref name="RSIS"/>

==Location==
This scenic lake, is about 20 km from [[Agra]] and 12 km from sikandra is located within the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary. Keetham Lake is linked by Railway track at Keetham Railway Station and was declared as National Bird Sanctuary on 27 March 1991 by U.P. Forest Department. The riverine belt of [[River Yamuna]] surrounds the area of Sur-Sarovar.

The entire lake is formed in a catchment area of 7.13 km². Keetham Lake is pentagonal in shape. There are artificially created islands for shelter and breeding grounds for the [[migratory birds]]. The best thing is that is placed on the way of Delhi and tourist can visit during their journey to Agra.

==Climate==
The climatic conditions of the lake area is typical of [[Uttar Pradesh]] plains with hot windy [[summers]] and cold [[Winter|winters]]. The temperature recorded ranges between 1.5 C to 48 C. The [[monsoon]] season occurs from July to September.

==Water Management==
The raw water for Keetham Lake is obtained from [[Agra Canal]] originating from [[Okhla]] barrage on River [[Yamuna]] in [[Delhi]]. At Delhi Agra road, the Agra Canal water is diverted through Jodhpur branch near Anand Engineering College located about 2 km from Keetham. The lake water of Keetham is also used as raw water intake for [[Mathura Refinery]] Water Treatment Plant<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iocl.com/aboutus/MathuraRefinery.aspx|title = Mathura Refinery | Petroleum Refinery | IndianOil}}</ref> located in vicinity of Keetham Lake

==Development==
U.P. Forest Department has created woodlands and developed shallow areas near lake, making it a natural habitat for birds nesting sites. Controversially, [[Government of Uttar Pradesh|Uttar Pradesh Government]] has decided to reduce the [[Eco-Sensitive Zone|Eco-sensitive zone]] limit around Keetham Lake from 10 kilometres to just 250 metres.<ref>{{cite news|title=Environmentalists oppose move to shrink eco-zone near Taj Mahal|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/environmenatlists-oppose-move-to-shrink-eco-zone-near-taj-mahal/16335197|access-date=12 July 2015}}</ref>

==Attractions==
More than 106 species of [[Migratory bird|migratory]] and resident birds are known to have their resting habitats at Sur Sarovar. The entire lake area gets covered by profuse growth of [[Aquatic_plant|macrophytic]] vegetation of [[water hyacinth]] (Eichornia sp.) and [[Potamogeton]] sp. during [[summers]]. The water quality of Keetham lake supports wide range of [[Bird|avifauna]] during [[winter]] season.
The important aquatic birds inhabiting Keetham lake are:
[[Little grebe|Little Grebes]],
[[Cormorants]],
[[Darter]],
[[Grey Heron]],
[[Purple Heron]],
Paddy Bird,
[[Cattle Egrets]],
[[Large egret|Large Egrets]],
Smaller Egrets,
[[Little egret|Little Egrets]],
[[Night Heron]],
Indian Reef Heron,
[[Black-necked stork|Black necked Stork]],
[[white Ibis]],
[[Eurasian spoonbill|Eurasian Spoon Bill]],
Greying Goose,
[[Bar-headed goose|Bar headed Goose]],
[[Lesser Whistling Teal]],
[[Ruddy Shelduck]],
[[Northern Pintail]],
[[Common Teal]],
[[Indian spot-billed duck|Indian Spot Billed Duck]],
[[Gadwall]], [[Wigeon]],
[[Shoveler]], and
[[Comb Duck]].

Within the Sur Sarovar, Bird Sanctuary is the [[Agra Bear Rescue Facility]], which is a [[Sloth bear]] rescue facility dedicated to rehabilitating previously enslaved '[[Dancing bear|dancing bears]]'. Established in 1999 by [[Wildlife SOS]] in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and others, the facility is located in an eight-hectare site. It currently houses over 170 sloth bears as well as other wildlife. Agra Bear Rescue Facility also does advanced research, disease management and provides specialised [[veterinary care]] as well as [[geriatric care]] for sloth bears. The facility is available for tours by small groups of people.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":22" /><ref name=":32" />

==See also==
*[[Patna Bird Sanctuary]]
*[[National Chambal (Gharial) Wildlife Sanctuary]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706152354/http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/india/agra/excursions-from-agra/keetham-lake.html |date=2008-07-06}}
* {{webarchive |url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090410071347/http://cpcbenvis.nic.in/newsletter/birdsanctury/ch40703.htm |date=2009-04-10}}
* {{webarchive |url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090410071428/http://cpcbenvis.nic.in/newsletter/birdsanctury/ch30703.htm |date=2009-04-10}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005042333/http://up-tourism.com/tour/agra_braj_circuit.htm |date=2008-10-05}}

{{Tourist attractions in Agra}}
{{Hydrography of Uttar Pradesh}}
{{Agra Division topics}}
{{Ramsar sites in India}}

[[Category:Lakes of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Agra district]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in India]]