The world is big, and there is no wonder. China has a vast territory, rich resources, numerous mountains and rivers, and complex and diverse geographical features, creating a colorful land of China. There are thousands of kilometers of the Yangtze River and Yellow River, as well as dozens of meters of Jehol River and several centimeters of Laihe River. There are both the majestic Tianshan Mountains and Kunlun Mountains, and the Jingshan Mountain that can be crossed in one step; There are both picturesque water towns in the south of the Yangtze River and the desert Gobi that stretches for thousands of miles.
What about the lake?
Needless to say, all the mountains, rivers and desert plateaus in China dare to call them the "best" in the world, especially the mountains! No country in the world dares to compete with China. No matter how many mountains are tall, big, long, heroic, dangerous, spiritual, beautiful and strange, the mountains in China are the highest in the world. But only the lake, China can't be proud of the world. The four or five freshwater lakes, including the largest Qinghai Lake, are not among the five great lakes in the world.
For example, Qinghai Lake is the largest lake in China. In fact, it is only over 4,000 square kilometers, and it is also a saltwater lake. Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, is only about 3,000 square kilometers in high water season and only a few dozen square kilometers in low water season. Dongting Lake and Taihu Lake are both over 2,000 square kilometers; Hongze Lake and Chaohu Lake are smaller! Not only that, the freshwater lakes in China are generally shallow lakes, the water depth is mostly below 5 meters, and Taihu Lake is only 3 meters deep. Therefore, the lack of water in China is the reason.
Although there are many rivers in China, such as Yangtze River, Yellow River, Pearl River, Heilongjiang, Nenjiang River, Songhua River, Wusuli River, Minjiang River, Minjiang River, Nujiang River, Lancang River, Hanjiang River, Yarlung Zangbo River, Liaohe River, Huaihe River, Haihe River, Weihe River, Fenhe River, Tarim River, Yihe River, Luohe River, Qinhe River and Taohe River. But in fact, there is a great difference between the north and the south, and the difference between the east and the west is also obvious.
Tianchi Lake in Changbai Mountain, the deepest lake in China, has an average water depth of 204 meters, Fuxian Lake in Yunnan Province has an average water depth of less than 100 meter, and Lugu Lake has a water depth of only tens of meters. There are many lakes in China, but they are all small and shallow. For example, Bosten Lake, Weishan Lake, Hulun Lake, Namco Lake, Chagan Lake, Qiandao Lake, West Lake, East Lake and Roman Lake are actually small lakes, and some are reservoirs. Compared with the great lakes and famous lakes in the world, it is really a drop in the ocean.
For example, the Great Lakes of North America-Lake Erie, Lake Superior, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan-cannot be mentioned casually. Together, these Great Lakes cover an area of 245,000 square kilometers, with a total storage capacity of 22.8 trillion cubic meters, accounting for one-fifth of the world's total fresh water. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world, with an area of over 80,000 square kilometers, which is almost equivalent to the area of a province in China and even larger than that of some small countries.
Lake Ladoga, the largest freshwater lake in Europe, covers an area of10.8 million square kilometers, with a water capacity of 908 cubic kilometers and the deepest point of 230 meters; Lake Victoria is the largest freshwater lake in Africa, covering an area of 69,000 square kilometers, and the second largest freshwater lake in the world, with a maximum water depth of 82 meters. Xingkai Lake in the northeast of China covers an area of 4,380 square kilometers, slightly larger than Qinghai Lake, a saltwater lake. Unfortunately, China owns only two-fifths of it. Because of the signing of the Beijing Treaty in 1860, it became the boundary lake between China and Russia.
Lake Baikal is located in eastern Siberia and is called the eye of the earth. Although its area is not very large, 31.5000 square kilometers, it is deep and the deepest lake in the world, with an average water depth of 730m and the deepest point of1.637m.. Its water storage accounts for more than one-fifth of the world's fresh water resources, surpassing the Great Lakes of North America. Russia can despise the Great Lakes of North America by relying on only one Lake Baikal, which is why Americans have always hated Lake Baikal and are jealous.
Unfortunately, Lake Baikal belonged to China 300 years ago. This is the place where Su Wu herded sheep, and it is also the famous Beihai in the history of China. It was not until the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty that it was owned by Russia because of the signing of the Treaty of Nebuchadnezzar Chu.
But interestingly, there is no big lake or deep lake in China, but there is the smallest lake in the world-Benxi Lake.
How small is Benxi Lake? 15 square meter! Yes, you are right. Yes 15 square meter, not 15 square kilometer. 15 square meter can be called a lake? According to the definition of a lake, it is really a lake. And was selected into Guinness World Records.
So China doesn't have the largest lake in the world, but it has the smallest lake in the world.
Benxi Lake is located in Benxi City, Liaoning Province. The name of Benxi City comes from Benxi Lake. It is located at the foot of Woyun Mountain in Dabao, north of the city. It is a small lake in a cave with an area of 15 square meter. It is not as big as a pond or even your living room, but it is a lake. Strictly speaking, it is more accurate and appropriate to call it Tan.
Originally named "Cup Rhinoceros Lake", Benxi Lake is named after it looks like a rhinoceros cup. Because the name is difficult to write and recognize, Yongzheng 12 changed its name to Benxi Lake. In the eighth year of Tongzhi, Gao Shengyao, a Chu Shi in Liaodong, inscribed the name of Benxi Lake and the words "Benxi Lake in Liaodong" on the ceiling of the cave.
Although Benxi Lake is small, the water flow every day and night is as high as 20,000 tons. The clear spring gurgles in the cave, which provides surface water to flow into the bottom of the cave along the cracks in the rock, thus providing a continuous source of water for Benxi Lake. Because of the large water flow, the water overflows, and the spring water continuously flows out of the hole and is injected into an artificial lake. The artificial lake was built after liberation, covering an area of more than 2,000 square meters, much larger than the Benxi Lake in the cave.
Later, the local people built climbing stone steps, pavilions and pavilions, and Benxi Lake cultural relics exhibition hall in the artificial lake. In addition, the lake shore is shaded by weeping willows, and there are pavilions and pavilions in the middle of the lake, which are connected by arch bridges, and there are various cruise ships for tourists to ride.
Benxi Lake is the smallest lake in the world, and Benxi Lake Park is also a park famous for its exquisiteness and delicacy, which is very ornamental. Benxi Lake Park is surrounded by mountains and waters, with rugged mountain roads and picturesque scenery. There are cliffs on one side and pines and cypresses on the other. The mountains and rivers set each other off and the grasslands are lush. Climb to the top of the mountain, and you can have a panoramic view of lakes and streams.
Although small, Benxi Lake is very famous, and it is one of the ten scenic spots in Kanto. It can be called a lake because it is located in a limestone cave-a strange stone cave. There are many ponds larger than Benxi Lake in China. Because there is no water inflow of more than 20 thousand tons per day, they can only be called pools, not lakes. The water in Benxi Lake is constantly flowing, and the big lakes outside the cave are filled, so it can be called a lake.
Benxi Lake Park and Guaishidong Park are both important parts of Benxi National Geopark, and there is an ancient temple called Cihang Temple outside the cave. It is said that there are three Cihang temples in China. In addition to this, there is another one in Gaizhou, southern Liaoning, and one in Taipei. This is the smallest, but it was built in the Ming Dynasty, so it is the oldest.
Benxi City is named after Benxi Lake, and Benxi City is also an excellent tourist city in China. So, the lake is not big, but it is famous!