Putrajaya Wetlands Park

Putrajaya was built from the 1990s as Malaysia's administrative capital on former plantation land, and the plan included a lake at its centre - which needed clean water, because the rivers feeding it drained agricultural ground carrying nutrients and sediment. The answer was engineering disguised as landscape: about two hundred hectares of wetland built at the northern inflow, divided into twenty-four cells planted with reeds, sedges and other filtering species, through which the incoming river water passes in sequence before reaching the lake. It is the largest constructed freshwater wetland in the tropics and it works - the water quality is monitored continuously. What resulted incidentally is a bird site: more than a hundred and fifty species have been recorded, including migratory waders, herons, kingfishers and raptors, with hides, boardwalks and a nature interpretation centre. Monitor lizards and otters are present.

What you actually see

• Twenty-four planted cells - river water filtered through them in sequence.
• Two hundred hectares built - the largest constructed freshwater wetland in the tropics.
• Over 150 bird species - waders, herons and raptors using the cells.
• Hides and boardwalks - the viewing infrastructure through the water.

When to go

All year; early morning for birds. Half a day.

Honest expectations

It is entirely artificial, which is the point but surprises people expecting wild wetland. Hot and exposed away from the boardwalks. Mosquitoes at dusk. Public transport within Putrajaya is limited.

Nearby

Putrajaya's government buildings and mosque are south around the lake.