Lake Dongting
Lake Dongting is the second largest lake in China and is situated in the province of Hunan. Normally it has an area of 2,820 sq. km. However, during the summer months (July to September) this area can grow up to 3,900 sq. km due to the flooding of the Jangtsekiang River. Thereby, making this lake an extremely important flood control basin that regulates the flow of the Jangtsekiang River.
This important function is being negatively influenced through the deforestation of protection forests, drainage of wetlands, settling of residential and industrial areas and the emergence of rice paddy areas. Thus, resulting in yearly flooding that is not only increasingly reaching critical levels, but additionally placing strain on human lives.
Lake Chao
Located in the province of Anhui, Lake Chao belongs to the five largest lakes in China. It spans an area of 760 sq. km and supports 5 million people by providing water for irrigation, transport and fishing opportunities. The intensive usage of the lake and its resources in previous years has led to a strong siltation and eutrophication of the water.
Lake Dian
With an area of 298 sq. km Lake Dian is the eighth largest lake in China. It is situated in the province of Yunnan, has an average depth of 4.4 m and a length, measured from North to South, of over 39 km.
Until the development of the first waste treatment plant in 1990, over 90 % of the waste water from Kumning, the province’s capitol, was released untreated into the lake. Due to this, the quality of the water has deteriorated considerably so that the water can no longer be used for agriculture or industry.
Lake Tai
Located in the Yangtze River delta close to the city of Wuxi, Lake Tai is the third largest freshwater lake in China. It borders the two provinces Jiangsu and Zhejiang and spans an area of 2,250 sq. km. 90 islands of differing sizes are all situated in an average depth of 2 m.
Taihu rocks are found in the area of Lake Tai and have probably famed the area the most. These highly perforated and bizarrely formed limestone rocks are mainly used in gardening.
Due to the rapid regional economic growth and the ensuing environmental impact, an increased algal and bacterial bloom occurred in May 2007. The lake’s water could, thus, not be used for drinking water by 30 million inhabitants of the region.
Lake Poyang
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