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Soon
Sakesar
Soon Sakesar
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Uchali Lake
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Other
than the northern Pakistan, one of the famous valleys of Pakistan include
Wadi-e-Soon and Sakesar (wadi means valley) in the central Punjab province.
Soon Valley is situated in the north west of Khushab. Soon Valley starts
from Padhrar village and end to Sakesar that is the highest peak of Salt
Range. The length of Soon Valley is 35 miles and average width is 9 miles.
Although not as coold as the valleys up north, Soon valley consists of
beautiful lakes, waterfalls, jungles, natural pools and ponds. Soon valley
is also blessed with ancient civilization , natural resources, and fertile
farms. There are some special features of this valley that distinguish
it from other areas, without knowing about them it is very hard to understand
its importance. Sabhral, Khoora, Nowshera, Kufri, Anga, Ugali, Uchali
and Bagh Shams-ud-Din are important towns in soon valley. Kanhatti Garden,
Sodhi Garden, Da'ep and Sakesar are resorts to visit. Awan tribe is settled
in Soon Valley.
Located
at a height of 5,010 feet above sea level, Sakesar was once the summer
headquarters for the deputy commissioners of three districts - CampbelIpur
(now Attock), Mianwali and Sargodha. It is the only mountain in this part
of the Punjab which receives snow fall in winters. In view of Sakesar's
ideal location and height, the PAF selected it in the late-50s as the
site for a high powered radar which would provide air defence cover for
the northeastern part of the western wing. Pakistan Television's re-broadcasting
center has been installed to provide terrestrial transmissions coverage
to adjoining areas.
There
are two well-renowned Uchhali Lake and Khabikki Lake lakes in Soon valley.
Uchhali is a salt water lake in the southern Salt Range area in Pakistan.
This lake is formed due to the absence of drainage in the range. Sakaser,
the highest mountain in the Salt Range, looms over the lake. Due to its
brackish water the lake is lifeless. But it offers a picturesque scenery.
Khabikki Lake is a salt water lake in the southern Salt Range area in
Pakistan. This lake is formed due to the absence of drainage in the range.
Earlier its water was brackish. Now the water is sweet and a Chinese breed
of fish is introduced in it. The lake is one kilometer wide and two kilometres
long. Khabikki is also the name of a neighbouring village. Boats are also
available and there is a rest house beside the lake. A hill gently ascended
on the right side of the lake. The lake and the green area around provide
a good scenery. These lakes attract thousands of migratory birds each
year and are ideal haven for the bird watchers.
Soon
Valley is accessible through public transport from Islamabad (M2 Balkasar
Interchange), Lahore (M2 Kalar Kahar Intre-change), Sargodha, Khushab
and Mianwali.
Ucchali
Lake:
Tucked
in the southern periphery of the Salt Range and hemmed in by its higher
cliffs, is a cluster of natural lakes — Ucchali, Khabbeki and Jhallar
in district Khushab. These lakes are said to be 400 years old, maybe more.
The lakes are a prime sanctuary for the migratory birds and were declared
a protected sanctuary for the native and migratory avifauna on the appeal
of World Wildlife Fund. Nestled at about 800 meters above the sea, lakes
have some marsh vegetation and are mostly surrounded by cultivated land,
which is picturesquely intersected by hillocks. The lakes are fed by the
spring, seepage from adjacent areas, and run off from the neighbouring
hills of the historic Salt Range. The lakes are one of the most important
wintering areas for the rare white-headed ducks (Oxyura leucocephala)
in Pakistan that comes here from Central Asia. Locals believe that there
is a volcano hidden beneath the surface of the Ucchali Lake due to which
the colour of the water keeps changing. The appearance of a vert broad
and brightly coloured rainbow in 1982 for consecutive 15 days is also
attributed to this analogy. in 1982, a strange phenomenon was observed
in the villages Ucchali and Dhadhar. The lakes’ water is also said
to cure gout and skin diseases. People have been taking the water from
the lakes as far as Lahore and Karachi. People think that a pure white
winged creature called Great egret, from Grus family, found in the area
is a symbol of longevity.
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