Lakes at Yangtze River Basin

The lakes at Yangtze River Basin totally cover an area of about 15200 square kilometers. Most of them are located at the middle-lower reaches of Yangtze River plain. Most of the lakes connect with Yangtze River and their water level change with the rise or lower of the water level of Yangtze River. They would help to adjust and restore the flood of Yangtze River.

Lakes at Yangtze River Basin - Poyang Lake

Poyang Lake is the biggest freshwater lake of China. It is located at Jiangxi Province. It is 173 kilometers long from south to north and is 74 kilometers at its widest from east to west. Poyang Lake covers an area of 3913 square kilometers. There are five rivers pour into Poyang Lake: Gan River, Fu River, Xin River, Rao River and Xiu River. It connects with Yangtze River at its north. The plain on banks of Poyang Lake is the main source of grains and cottons of Jiangxi Province.

Poyang Lake plays an important role in the adjusting and restoring flood of Yangtze River. The height difference of its water level reaches tens of meters. The water level of Poyang Lake was 21.69 meters in flood season while it is only 10.20 meters in dry season in 1998, according to record in Record of Lakes in China wroted by Wang Suming.

Lakes at Yangtze River Basin – Dongting Lake

Dongting Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in China. It is located at northern part of Hunan Province. Xiang River, Zi River, Yuan River and Li River flow into Dongting Lake. It is also an important lake for Yangtze River since it would help to adjust and restore the flood. Due to the heavy silting and farmland reclamation, Dongting Lake only covers an area of 2625 square kilometers (1995). The lake is expanding due to the implication of making the farmland to lake. The number of residents at Dongting Lake basin takes one ninth of the total population of Hunan Province.

Lakes at Yangtze River Basin – Tai Lake

Taihu Lake is located at Yangtze River Delta which is between Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province. It is the third largest freshwater lake of China which covers an area of 2460 square kilometers. It receives the water of Dongying Stream, Jing Stream, Changdang Lake and Ge Lake. Only a small amount of its water flows into Yangtze River since most amount of its water pour into Huangpu River which is a main tributary of Yangtze River. The lakes and rivers at Tai Lake basin form a good irrigation system and inland rivers net.

Lakes at Yangtze River Basin – Chao Lake

Chao Lake is the fifth largest freshwater lake of China which covers an area of 780 square kilometers. It is located at central Anhui Province. It flows into Yangtze River through Yuxi Lake.

Lakes at Yangtze River Basin – Other Lakes

The lakes at north Yunnan Province, west Guizhou Province and west Sichuan Province totally cover an area of 500 square kilometers which takes 3.3 percent of the total area of lakes at Yangtze River Basin. There are Dianchi Lake, Lugu Lake, Chenghai Lake, Caohai Lake, Qionghai Lake and Ma Lake. Dianchi Lake is located at southeastern Yunnan Province. It is the biggest lake on Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau which covers an area of 297 square kilometers.