Ba Bể Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Ba Bể Lake
image_lake = Babenp 2007 01 3.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Bắc Kạn Province
coords = coord|22|14|N|105|34|E|region:VN_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow =
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = Vietnam
length = 8 km
width = 100 - 600 m
area = 6.5 km²
depth = 15 - 17 m
max-depth = 29 m
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = 145 m
islands =
cities =

Ba Bể Lake ( _vi. Hồ Ba Bể; Ba means Three, Bể is from the Tay language word "pé", meaning "lake") is the largest natural lake in Vietnam. It is located in Nam Mẫu commune, Bắc Kạn district, Bắc Kạn province, in the northeastern region of the country.

Having been formed approximately 200 million years ago, the lake is surrounded by limestone cliffs, which in turn are covered by primary forests. The lake comprises three zones named Pé Lầm, Pé Lù, and Pé Lèng. Three rivers, named Năng, Tả Han, and Nam Cường, are the main inflows of the lake. The Năng river enters the lake through a large waterfall called Đầu Đẳng. In the lake there are also three islands, named Án Mã, Khẩu Cúm, and Po Gia Mải (literally "Widow's Island").

Ba Bể Lake is a featured geographical science and is a biodiversity reservoir. It is a part of the Ba Be National Park.

External links

* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/957/ Ba Be Lake in UNESCO website]
* [http://www.terragalleria.com/vietnam/vietnam.ba-be-lake.html Ba Bể Lake photos by QT Luong]
*Commonscat-inline|Ba Be Lake