Qiandao Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Qiandao Lake
image_lake = Qiandaohu.jpg
caption_lake = Santan (Beach) Island, a 40-minute drive from the Town
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Chun'an County, Zhejiang
coords = coord|29|36|33|N|118|59|24|E|type:waterbody_region:CN|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow =
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = China
length =
width =
area = 573 km²
depth = 26 m
max-depth = 120 m
volume = 17.8 km³
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = 108 m
islands = 1078
cities =

Qiandao Lake (Chinese: 千島湖, lit. "lake of thousand islands") is a man-made lake located in Chun'an County, Zhejiang, China. Qiandao Lake is a man-made lake formed since the completion of the Xinanjiang hydroelectric station. There are 1,078 large islands in the lake and a few thousand smaller ones. It covers an area of 573 km², it has a storage capacity of 17.8 km³. The total area of the islands in the lake is about 86 km².

Qiandao Lake is known for its clear, and sometimes, drinkable water, such as that used to produce the renowned Nongfu Spring brand of mineral water. It is also home to lush forestation (over 90%), and exotic islands, its more popular attractions include the Bird Island, the Snake Island, the Lock Island (featuring supposedly the world's biggest lock), the Island to Remind You of Your Childhood.

The lake is an important tourist attraction of Zhejiang. Newer housing developments have sprung up since the late 1990s at a reasonable cost to buyers looking for lakeside residences.

History

In 1994, three bandits raided a boat full of Taiwanese tourists and set it on fire, killing all 32 passengers onboard in a notorious event named the Qiandao Lake Incident. The PRC's rough handling of the incident upset many people in Taiwan, hence escalating the event into a political incident that resulted in an increase of support for independence in Taiwan.

In 2007, a Chinese-Italian consortium started to plan the construction of a prototype of an archimedes bridge in the lake, spanning 100 m, as a proof-of-concept for larger bridges.

At the foot of the Wu Shi mountain (Five Lion Mountain) lays an ancient ctiy known as Shi Cheng (Lions City), built in Dong Han period (25 - 200), first was setup as county in 208, it was named "Lion City" because of the Five Lion Mountain that sits just behind the city.

Flooded in September 1959 for the Xin Anjiang Dam project, the city remains undisturbed from the surface at a depth of 26-40m, [http://big-blue.cn/en/trip.php Big Blue] dive operator based in Shanghai, runs weekend trips twice a month throughout the year to the city and has started to [http://big-blue.cn/en/photo_details.php?photo_id=00000019 uncover] parts of the lost city.

Transport

There are hourly buses that connect Qiandao Lake with the provincial capital, Hangzhou, under which it is technically under jurisdiction. A railway development project to the area was ceased as it was considered damaging to the natural sights of Qiandao Lake. An expressway will be linking Hangzhou, Qiandao Lake, and Huangshan, Anhui by 2008.

ee also

* Hangzhou Qiandaohu Beer Co., Ltd., a company named after the lake, next to which its headquarters and brewery are located.
* Nongfu Spring (农夫山泉), Chinese mineral water company based in the area.