Kanas Lake

Isolated from the outside world and remaining undeveloped by human beings, Kanas is acclaimed as one of the few pure spots of lands still left on earth.

The Kanas Nature Reserve is located in the heart of Xinjiang's Altai Region that borders Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Its name, Kanas, is a Mongolian word that means "a beautiful and mysterious place." It is estimated that the Kanas Lake, as the core of the Kanas Natural Reserve, formed some 200,000 years ago, due to glacier development during the last Ice Age.

The nature reserve is best known for the picturesque Kanas Lake, which was formed through strong plowing by glaciers. About 1,375 meters above sea level, the crescent-shaped alpine lake covers an area of 44.78 square kilometers -- ten times the size of the Heavenly Lakein the Tianshan Mountains. It reaches about 180 meters at the deepest point, making it the deepest alpine freshwater lake in China.

Under the blue sky and the fluffy white clouds, the lake water is as limpid as a mirror, decorated with the reflections of the snow-capped mountains and dense forests. A notable feature of the lake is that the water changes its color with the changing of the seasons and weather. Within a single day, the water's color may turn from green to blue, gray, or white.

The Kanas Lake is an extension of the European eco-system, which is very rare in China. In this natural reserve, there are 798 kinds of plants, of which 30 kinds are rare plants, 39 kinds of animals, 117 kinds of birds, and 7 kinds of fishes. Of these animals, 5 kinds are under Grade I protection of the State, 13 kinds are under the State's Grade II protection, while 9 kinds are other rare animals. In addition, the number of the recorded new species of insect and eubacterium (kinds of bacteria) is not less than 60.

Around the lake are thick and green theropencedrymion (a kind of plant) that integrates with the grasslands in the mountains. As its name indicates, Kanas proves to be a magical and appealing place for people of all ages, who are fascinated by the enchanting primitive beauty of its undulating mountains, crisscrossing ravines and gullies (water-made ravines), luxurious forests and grasslands, clear waters, and fresh air.

In spring, various flowers are in blossom in the grassland, and the grass is thick and green. When viewed from the grass, the clouds and mist nearby look like white ribbons round mountains. In the distance are snow-capped mountains on which thick forests grow.

In July or August, standing at the Fish Viewing Pavilion that is 2,030 m above sea level, and looking down at the view below, visitors will be attracted by the beautiful lake and its surrounding areas of grand glaciers, gurgling streams, and verdant forests and pastures. Visitors will find that under the blue sky and white clouds the lake surface is just like a beautiful large color canvas, whose color varies: some parts are heavy in color, some are light, some are blue, and some are green.

The Kanas Lake is actually made up of six gulfs. At present, only three sections of the lake are open to tourists. In the Kanas Lake, tourists can view "Treasure Light," which is called "Buddha Light" by local people. The light, when integrated with the beautiful Kanas Lake view, the white glaciers, the green grassland, the boundless forest, and the mist in the mountains, will make people feel as if they were in a fairyland.

When the sun rises in the morning or at the time it is getting dark after sunset, when on a boat on the lake or standing on the platform at the lake center, if lucky, people can see the mysterious "lake monster" like a small boat, appearing or disappearing.

The legendary lake monster gives Kanas more mystery and color. It is said that an enormous monster has been living in the lake since ancient times, which often stirred high water sprouts and sometimes dragged horses, cattle, and sheep into the water. In recent years, scientists and explorers have been lured here in search of the truth about the monster, but no hard evidence has yet been collected. Some scientists assume that the monster could just be a rare, if outlandish, species of fish.

Kanas is the only outstretched belt of Siberian Taiga Forest in China, the only distribution area of Siberian plants in China, and the largest branch river head of the Irtysh River (or Etix River in Kazak language) -- the only water system to the Arctic Ocean in China. It is also the only place in China inhabited by Mongolian Chinese -- Tuwa people, and the place of the alpine glacier with the smallest altitude in China.

Tuwa people, also called "Tuwa," "Dewa," or "Kukumenqiak," have a long history and were recorded in ancient literature. Some scholars hold the view that Tuwa people are the offspring of the old, weak, sick, and disabled soldiers left by Genghis Khan when he led his troops to attack the Western Regions. But Tuwa elders said that their ancestors migrated from Siberia 500 years ago, and that they are the same ethnic group as the Tuwa people of the Tuwa Republic of Russia.

Tuwa people have kept their unique custom and language. Tuwa language falls into the Turkic language group of the Altaic language family and is closely related to the Kazak language. Tuwa people celebrate the traditional Mongolian Aobao and Zoulu (Winter) festivals as well as the Han people's Spring and Lantern festivals. Tuwa people believe in Buddhism and live in Tuwa Village, Biahaba Tuwa Village, and so on around Kanas.

The Kanas Lake and Tuwa people, in a harmonious union, constitute a unique view and folk culture at Kanas.

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