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Qatar / General

Visitors, bird watchers head to Al Karaana Lagoon on weekends

Published: 14 Jan 2023 - 02:46 pm | Last Updated: 14 Jan 2023 - 03:16 pm
All pictures by Abdul Basit / The Peninsula

All pictures by Abdul Basit / The Peninsula

Doha: As the temperatures dip, tourists and residents looking at options to head out on weekend are driving towards Al Karaana Lagoon, the popular natural reserve of Qatar, that is hub to migratory birds.

Al Karaana Lagoon is among the environmental projects of the country and has emerged as a major habitat for diverse birds and fish species. The lagoon also serves as a green rest stop with accessible clean water for migratory birds flocking over the country.

It is also a favourite spot for bird watchers who usually find migratory birds including Osprey, Water pipit, Purple Heron, Kestrel and many more.

With an aim to protect and enhance the Qatari environment, the area was rehabilitated and transformed into a wildlife habitat that is suitable for various species of birds and fishes.

One of the visitors at the lagoon Dale McKinsey said that she loved the place for its natural beauty. "Nature is at its best in this place. We can just sit here and see these birds and just be contented. The habitat is not spoiled with buildings or any construction," she added.

The Al Karaana Lagoon Reserve, situated 60 km southwest of Doha, is a rehabilitation project completed by the Public Works Authority in 2020 as the country's effort to increase green areas and to enhance sustainability.