Kenyir Lake, Artificial reservoir in Hulu Terengganu, Malaysia
Kenyir Lake is an artificial reservoir in Hulu Terengganu district in Malaysia, created by damming a river valley in the 1980s. The water surface covers about 369 square miles (956 square kilometers) and includes more than three hundred small islands, with the deepest areas reaching nearly 475 feet (145 meters).
The Kenyir Dam was completed in 1985 to generate electricity and prevent flooding in the Terengganu region. Construction transformed forested valleys and riverbanks into a lake, creating a new landscape of water and islands.
The name comes from the Kenyir River that once flowed through the valley before the dam was built. Local anglers still use traditional techniques to catch fish from shallow coves and around tree stumps that remain standing in the water.
Access to the lake is through boat rental points at several piers scattered along the shore. During months with lower water levels, more shoreline areas become visible, making it easier to explore coves and try fishing.
Below the water surface stand trees from the time before flooding, their trunks and branches attracting algae. These submerged structures create habitats where fish gather and breed, so some anglers search them out deliberately.
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