Erhai Lake

The Er Hai (Chinese洱海he Hǎi ) (translated: Ear Lake) or " Erhai Lake " is an incurred by an alpine fault lake in the south-western Chinese province of Yunnan. His name means "ear -shaped lake ," as he is seen due to its shape by locals and travelers. The Erhai was formerly known as Yeyuze or Kunming Lake. A common translation error " Erhai Lake ".

Geography

Erhai is located at an altitude of 1,972 m above sea level. In the north - south length of the lake has a length of 40 km, and the east-west width is about 7-8 km. Its area is 250 km ², making it the Erhai the second largest highland lake of China, after the Dian Lake in Kunming. Its perimeter is 116 km, its average depth is 11 m and the total storage capacity of 2.5 billion cubic meters.

The lake is nestled between the Cangshan Mountains to the west and the city of Dali. It starts at Dengchuan at its northern end and ends at XiaGuan - the New Town of Dali - in the south. The Erhai receives water from the rivers to the north and Miju Mici, in the east by Bolou, as well as smaller streams from the Cangshan Mountains. The river Yangbi is the outlet of the lake to the south and he eventually flows into the Lancang Jiang ( Mekong ).

Attractions

The lake can be explored by hiking. Highlights include the Erhai Park and the Butterfly Source on the west bank. Islands on the lake - including Guanyin Ge, Jinsuo, Nanzhao Fengqing and Xiaoputuo - can also be visited.

The lake is an important source of food for the local population, the Bai 's, famous for its Cormorant fishing: their trained cormorants to catch the fish and return them back to the fishermen. By rings around the neck of cormorants will prevent them from swallowing the fish. In Erhai also home to a large variety of typical carp ( Cyprinus ), where endemic species (C. barbatus, C. daliensis and spring fish C. longipectoralis ) were found.