Man-made desert lake: Ecological paradise or disaster?

A flock of coots take to the water of Lake Zakher in the remote deserts of the UAE.

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A bird-watcher's paradise in the desert

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• A lake has emerged amid the sand dunes in the United Arab Emirates
• It is a result of recycled waste water dumped from the UAE's water management system
• It attracts a wide variety of wildlife, delighting birdwatchers
• But desert ecologists consider the lake an environmental disaster

 In a remote corner of the United Arab Emirates, a blue lake shimmers amid the sand dunes.

It's not a mirage, but a man-made oasis -- an unintended byproduct of the UAE's water management practices, which has sprung from the desert in recent years.

Opinion is divided over this unexpected phenomenon, known locally as Lake Zakher.

Huw Roberts is a university lecturer who has been an avid birdwatcher in the Gulf region for nearly two decades.

"This is one of the best sites in the UAE for birds," he said. "It's a good habitat for wintering birds and birds on passage."