Chenghai Lake

Chenghai Lake (Chinese: 程海; pinyin: Chénghaǐ) is a mesotrophic^[1] plateau lake in Yunnan Province, China. The lake has a total area of about 77.22 square kilometres (29.81 sq mi). The average depth is 25.7 metres (84 ft), with an elevation of 1,503 metres (4,931 ft). the water storage capacity is about 19.87×10⁸m³.^[2] Chenghai Lake is one of only three lakes in the world where Spirulina is found naturally.^{[citation needed]}

Chenghai Lake
Chenghai Lake
Location	Chenghai Town, Yongsheng County, Yunnan
Coordinates	26°32′52″N 100°39′38″E
Catchment area	228.9 km2 (88.4 sq mi)
Basin countries	China
Max. length	19.35 km (12 mi)
Max. width	5.3 km (3 mi)
Surface area	77.22 km2 (0 sq mi)
Average depth	25.7 m (84 ft)
Max. depth	35.1 m (115 ft)
Water volume	1.987 billion cubic metres (70.2×10^9 cu ft)
Surface elevation	1,503 m (4,931 ft)

Ecology

Chenghai Lake is known to have significant yeast biodiversity; a study collected and identified 64 yeast strains, in 22 species across 8 genera.^[3] The lake is a closed ecosystem, and is mesotrophic, meaning it supports an intermediate level of biological productivity.^[1][4] Aquatic vegetation in the lake has declined, probably due to pollution, habitat destruction, eutrophication, and effects of grass carp stocks.^[5]

Pollution

Caesium-137, a radioactive fallout isotope, is present in the lake.^[6]

Notes

1. Yue, TianXiang; Nixdorf, Erik; Zhou, Chengzi; Xu, Bing; Zhao, Na; Fan, Zhewen; Huang, Xiaolan; Chen, Cui; Kolditz, Olaf (2018-10-09). Chinese Water Systems: Volume 3: Poyang Lake Basin. Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-97725-6.
2. Sumin, Wang; Hongshen, Dou (1998). Lakes in China. Beijing: Science Press. p. 377. ISBN 7-03-006706-1.
3. Zhou, Xinli; Li, Zhiying; Yang, Liyuan; Dong, Minghua; Li, Shaolan (2011-04-01). "[Identification of yeasts isolated from Chenghai Lake, a plateau lake in Yunnan province]". Wei Sheng Wu Xue Bao = Acta Microbiologica Sinica. 51 (4): 547–553. ISSN 0001-6209. PMID 21796991.
4. Xu, Yan; He, Shu; Peng, Jianfeng; Huang, Fei; Huo, Xumeng; Tu, Haiwen; Cai, Yanpeng; Huang, Xuena; Sun, Jun (2022-08-01). "Mobile generalist species dominate the food web succession in a closed ecological system, Chenghai Lake, China". Global Ecology and Conservation. 36: e02122. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02122. ISSN 2351-9894.
5. YunXian, Dong; ZhiWei, Tan; JunSong, Wang (2011). "Current status and evolution trend of aquatic vegetation in Chenghai Lake". Plant Diversity and Resources. 33 (4). Beijing: 451–457. ISSN 2095-0845.
6. Walling, D. E.; Horowitz, Arthur J. (2005). Sediment Budgets. IAHS Press. ISBN 978-1-901502-87-9.