Qinghai Lake is one of the deepest lake in China, with an average depth of 20 meters, the deepest is 75 meters. The scenery here is different from each seasons. Qinghai Lake is a magical place in visitors' eyes, also called the attention of scientists around the world. Lying on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the Ridge of World, the Qinghai Lake is embraced by the Datong Mountain, Riyue Mountain and Qinghai South Mountain in the northeast of Qinghai Province. As the largest inland saltwater lake in China, the oval-shaped lake covers an area of 4,635 square kilometers and is 3,196 meters above sea level. The weather here is cool all the year round. Even in midsummer, the daily average temperature is about 15 C, making the lake a perfect summer resort. The lake is also abundant in fish, among which the naked carp is the most famous and delicious. Also known as Huang fish without scale, it has a reputation of the king of lake in the local area.

The Qinghai Lake contains little oxygen and much salt, with little plankton. It has a visibility of 8-9 meters, so it appears especially blue, just like a piece of glittery sapphire. Various kinds of birds hover in the sky while countless fish swim in the water. The lake is surrounded in four sides by Datong Mountain, Riyue Mountain, Qinghai South Mountain and Xiangpi Mountain, serving as four imposing natural barriers. Along the lake, the grassland stretches several hundred miles. Every summer and autumn, the grassland is covered by overlapping grass with numerous flocks and herds, adding an artless flavor and leisure to the lake. Chains of mountains, the blue lake, the green grassland and the yellow wheat fields form a landscape of the open west area.

In the Qinghai Lake are five islands of different shapes, namely the Haixin Hill (hill in the middle of the sea), Gucha Hill (Three-stones Hill), Bird Island, Haixi Hill (hill in the west of sea) and Sand Island, of which the Bird Island is the most famous one. Reputed as the Kingdom of Birds, the island is 10 meters above the lake water, covering an area of 0.11 square kilometers. In late spring and early summer every year, thousands of birds come to their kingdom and their chirm can be heard several miles away, forming a spectacular scene. Various kinds of birds roost here, including gull, wild goose, swan, crane, and the rare black neck crane. Bird eggs are in everywhere between May and June every year, and after June, the chicks in groups and buzzes, the sound of the birds can be passed to ears a few miles away. It is the best time to watch Birds of Qinghai Lake. And it is also the best place to take a camp for the visitors, the temperature is always around 18 degrees, really a cool and pleasant climate.

 

Key Words:
青藏高原 Qīngzàng Gāoyuán: Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
世界屋脊 Shìjiè Wūjǐ: the Ridge of World
大通山 Dàtōng Shān: Datong Mountain
日月山 Rìyuè Shān: Riyue Mountain
青海南山 Qīnghǎi Nánshān: Qinghai South Mountain
橡皮山 Xiàngpí Shān: Xiangpi Mountain
孤插山 Gūchā Shān: Gucha Hill (Three-stones Hill)
鸟岛 Niǎodǎo: Bird Island