As of today, out of season, returns ~October. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
Tucked into the hills of Kachin State, Indawgyi is Myanmar's largest inland lake and one of the most important winter refuges on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
Each year from October, as the northern winter sets in, more than 17,000 migratory waterbirds of roughly 29 species pour down from breeding grounds in China, Russia, and beyond to spend the cold months on the lake's broad, calm waters and surrounding wetlands.
Ducks raft in their thousands, sarus cranes and storks stalk the margins, and globally significant numbers of vulnerable species use the lake, which is protected as a wildlife sanctuary and a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve.
The setting is part of the appeal — the gilded Shwe Myitzu pagoda rises on a sandbar in the lake, fishing communities work the shallows, and forested hills frame the water.
From a boat or the shore at dawn, the lake comes alive with the calls and rafts of wintering birds, a seasonal gathering that powers both the ecosystem and the local economy until the birds depart again in spring.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
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| Indawgyi Lake (Lonton), Kachin State |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.