UAE's Lake Amid Mountains Open To Visitors Now In Sharjah

With the upcoming Urban Development Projects, Sharjah City is setting a new attraction for its residents and tourists. A lake was inaugurated as a strategic plan for a water reservoir for people.

Sharjah City is all set to showcase a new attraction for residents and tourists. A lake was inaugurated on Saturday afternoon, serving as a strategic water reservoir for people. Al Hefaiyah, the water body, is situated on the Sharjah-Kalba Road after the Al Hiyar Tunnel and is part of the Emirati's upcoming urban development projects.

The lake is surrounded by a 3.17-kilometer dual-lane road, which allows tourists to stroll and enjoy the scenic view, with a play area covering 620 square meters for children. Earlier this month, Hanging Gardens, with over 100,000 trees spanning an area of 1.6 million square feet and a height of 281 meters above sea level, was opened in Kalba for its residents.

Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi inaugurated the lake who is a Supreme Council member and Ruler of Sharjah, who was in attendance with Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.

The lake is 132,000 square meters and has been built with some of the latest technology, including new construction materials best suited for hilly climates, pipes linking the mountains and the lake for surplus water storage, rainwater collection, and valley run-off management. With a capacity of 155 million gallons and a depth of up to four meters, it has a 3.2-kilometre-long water conduit for bringing water from the lowlands and nearby mountains. Three barriers and filters have been erected to reduce the entry of valley water into the lake and purify it of contaminants and sediments.

The mountain alongside the lake spans 11.7 km. It includes a variety of paths of varying lengths and difficulty levels, consisting of the Al Hefaiyah Lake Trail, Eastern Mountain Trail, Southern Al Friesh Mountain Trail, Northern Al Friesh Mountain Trail, and Al Friesh Lake Trail.

The lake also consists of a mosque in the compound that can have around 495 worshippers. The emirate's ruler lifted the curtain over the plaque at the Al Hefaiyah Mosque, signaling its opening and leading the audience into the Maghrib prayer. The mosque covers an area of 852 square meters and is designed in the Fatimid style and decorated with geometric and floral themes. It has a 36-meter tall minaret, a women's prayer hall for 110 worshippers, an outdoor courtyard for 2040 worshippers, an Islamic library with books on explanation, jurisprudence, and legal rulings, and many ablution and lavatory areas for men and women.

The Al Hefaiyah Lake Project also consists of the Al Hefaiyah Rest House, which is 500 square meters and has a direct view of the lake and Kalba's high mountains, with the Hanging Gardens and waterfalls on one side and an 8500 square meter play area and green space on the other.

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