Keetham lake is a scenic lake

Lake

A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...

 just outside Agra

Agra

Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...

 on the Agra

Agra

Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...

 - Delhi

Delhi

Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...

 highway (NH 2). The Keetham lake is also known as the Sur Sarovar. It is a tranquil spot, ideal for a relaxed outing. A wide variety of fish and water-birds add to the lake's natural charm and beauty.

Location

This scenic lake, is about 20 KM from Agra

Agra

Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...

 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 in 27 March 1991 by U.P. Forest Department. The riverine belt of River Yamuna surrounds the area of Sur-Sarovar.

Climate

The climatic conditions of the lake area is typical of Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...

 plains with hot windy summers and extremely cold winters. The average temperature ranges between 1.5 C to 49 C. The monsoon season occurs during July to September.

Area

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 to the migratory birds.

Water Management

The raw water for Keetham Lake is obtained from Agra Canal

Agra canal

The Agra Canal is an important Indian irrigation work which starts from Okhla in Delhi. The Agra canal originates from Okhla barrage, downstream of Nizamuddin bridge. It opened in 1874....

 originating from Okhla

Okhla

Okhla, is a neighbourhood around the old village in South Delhi district, though it is most known as the Okhla Industrial Area or Okhla Industrial Estate, an industrial suburb of New Delhi in South Delhi and mainly divided in three phases...

 barrage on River Yamuna

Yamuna

The Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...

 in Delhi

Delhi

Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...

. At Delhi Agra road, the Agra Canal water is diverted through Jodhpur branch near Anand Engineering Collage located about 2 km from Keetham. The lake water of Keetham is also used as raw water intake for Mathura Refinery Water Treatment Plant 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.

Attractions

More than 106 species of migratory and resident birds are known to have their resting habitats at Sur Sarovar. The entire lake area gets covered by profuse growth of macrophytic vegetation of water hyacinth (Eichornia sp.) and Potamogeton sp. during summers. The water quality of Keetham lake supports wide range of avifauna

Bird

Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...

during winter season.
The important aquatic birds inhabiting Keetham lake are

• Little Gerbs
• Cormorants
• Darter,
• Grey Heron
• Purple Heron
• Paddy Bird
• Cattle Egrets
• Large Egrets
• Smaller Egrets
• Little Egrets
• Night Heron
• Indian Reef Heron
• Black necked Stork
• white Ibis
• Spon Bill
• Greying Goose
• Bar headed Goose
• Lesser Whistling Teal
• Ruddy Shelduck
• Pintail
• Common Teal
• Spot Billed Duck
• Gadwall, Wigeon
• Shoveler
• Comb Duck