The legend of the lakes

2008-03-13 13:34:59 [ Big Normal Small ]    　Comment

The legend of the Loch Ness monster in Scotland is one of the most famous lake monster legends in the world. The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep, a new movie about the monster, is screening in Beijing. Although there is no definite conclusion about the legendary lake monster, it still attracts curiosity.

Many other places around the world have tales of lake monsters. The frequent monster sightings in the media have made these lakes hot tourist sites.

Tianchi Lake, Jilin Province

Tianchi Lake on Changbai Mountain, Jilin Province, is the deepest lake in China. It was formed by a volcano break in 1702 and is located on the top of Baitou Peak, the highest peak of Changbai Mountain.

The lake is 2,155 meters above sea level and covers 9 square kilometers. Its average depth is 204 meters.

Tianchi Lake is the national boundary lake of China and North Korea. The lake is surrounded with 16 mountain peaks. Sunny days are rare in Tianchi. It is bounded by huge rocks with no nearby grasses or trees.

The lake is a chilly 7 ? Its low temperatures limit its fauna to a handful of cold water fish. Many people suspect its limited capacity for life makes food supplies too sparse to support a lake monster. Since the first monster sightings in the 1980s, many visitors have claimed to have seen the giant. Researchers have yet to form a solid conclusion.

The mountain itself is also well-known for its varieties of valuable plants and animals.


With 2,343 kinds of plants, Changbai Mountai is known as a “natural museum.” The altitudof the mountain creates temperature striations from temperate to frigid. Old species dating back to 200AD can be found here. There are also species of plants native to North Korea and Japan.

The mountain is home to 1,179 kinds of animals and 200 kinds of vertebrates.

Getting there: Erdaobaohe Town in Antu County, Jilin Province, is the nearest point of departure for visitors bound for Changbai Mountain. In Changchun, capital city of Jilin Province, there are direct buses and trains to Erdaobaihe Town. Trains are available from Beijing to Yanji city or Antu County, which has buses to Erdaobaihe.

Bus information: 0433-5712 564

Cost: North gate of Changbai Mountain, 100 yuan; Tianchi Lake, 25 yuan

Kanas Lake, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Kanas Lake is located in the Altai Valley in Burqin County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Its name comes from Mongolian and means “lake in the valley.” The lake is 1,374 meters above sea level and covers 46 square kilometersKanas Lake is the main source of water in the Kanas Natural Reserve. It is shaped like a crescent, and its color varies by season.

The lake is in the high-frigid temperature zone. Its average temperature in July is 16 ? There are many cold weather plants in this area, 39 kinds of animals and 224 kinds of insects.

There are a few Tuvas living in the Kanas area, most of whom live in Mongolia and Russia. Tuvas seldom contact the outside world, and have preserved their traditional lifestyle and religion. Most of their homes are built of wood and are near water. The Tuvas are nomadic hunters.

The story about a Kanas monster first appeared in 1985. Witnesses were teachers and students from the biology department of Xinjiang University. The monsters were said to be huge red fish, measuring 10 to 15 meters in length.

In 1987, a group of scientists went to the lake to determine the authenticity of the monsters. After two years of research, the team concluded the monsters were hucho taimens. No one knows how many huge hucho taimens are living in the lake, the accurate size of the fish, how many years they have lived there or what they eat to survive.
Although more and more people claim to have seen monsters in Kanas Lake, no one has presented any reasonable explanation.

Getting there: Trains and buses are the main ways to reach Kanas. There are direct trains and buses from Urumchi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, to Burqin County.

Cost: 100 yuan

(bjtoday.ynet.com)

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