Two major freshwater lakes in China are nearly dry due to persistent drought

According to media reports on Aug. 24, the recent widespread and persistent hot and dry weather in mainland China has led to drought disaster in many areas. In particular, the Yangtze River Basin has experienced the most severe drought since 1961.

 According to the report, as early as Aug. 6th the water level of Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, has dropped to 11.99 meters. It is the earliest to enter the dry period since hydrological records were kept in 1951. According to data monitored by the meteorological center, the water area of Poyang Lake has shrunk from nearly 4,000 square kilometers in April this year, to less than 600 square kilometers. As of now the water area has decreased by another 66% compared to last month.

 Meanwhile, Dongting Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in China, is also facing the same problem. Usually, August is the high water period of Dongting Lake every year, and the water level will be higher than ever before. However, due to the prolonged high temperature and dry weather this year, the water level of the lake has been on a decreasing trend since July. The time below the dry water level is more than 80 days earlier than the average of previous years, which is the earliest year to enter the dry water period since 1971. According to the meteorological satellite detection, the water body of Dongting Lake was about 546 square kilometers on August 21, a decrease of about 62% compared with the average value of the same period in the past 10 years, which is the smallest value in the past 10 years. Compared with the area of the water body on July 1st, it was reduced by about 67%. Local fishermen stated that a large number of fish failed to retreat into the main river because the lake level dropped too quickly and were trapped in small ponds dying from a lack of oxygen, causing water pollution. Some experts said that the death of a large number of fish in the lake, in addition to polluting the water, will also have an impact on the perennial habitat of migratory birds. This in turn interferes with the entire lake’s ecosystem. If the lake water is not replenished in a timely manner, the death of fish will increase.