Thanda Dam

Tanda Dam or Thanda Dam is located in Kohat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The dam was constructed during 1962-1967, inaugurated by then President Ayub Khan in 1962 and operational by 1967. Covers 405 hectares (1,000 acres) with an initial water storage capacity of 65,000 acre-feet. It supplies water via canals to irrigate 30% of Kohat’s villages, including Jurma, Tappi, Dhoda, and Shahpur, supporting crops like wheat, sugarcane, and vegetables.

Designated a Wetland of International Importance on 23 July 1976 (Ramsar Site No. 98) for its role in supporting migratory birds and local biodiversity. Migratory birds from Siberia and Afghanistan, like Blue-headed macaw, Coots, Pochard, Fantails, Cranes, Ruddy shelduck, etc., use Tanda Dam as a temporary transit stop.

It hosts Anatidae species (ducks, geese) and other waterbirds, with up to 2,000 birds during migration periods (though numbers have declined due to climate change and hunting).

At a distance of 60 km to the east of the dam, the Indus River is located, which is known as Indus Flyway No. 4. The dam provides an important lake ecosystem for waterfowl.