A new river formed in Hoh Xil Area in Tibet

 Since September, the area and water level of Kusai Lake in Hoh Xil have continued to grow. The lake water finally broke through the basin and formed a new river, making the lake largest outflow water in the area, or another source of the Yangtze River if the new river continues flowing.

According to the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve Administration Bureau, since September, due to a continuous unknown flood, the water of Kusai Lake has continued to rise, and finally formed a 20-meter wide new river flowing to the Haiding Noel Lake 20,000 meters away. At present, Kusai Lake has become the largest outflow lake in Hoh Xil Nature Reserve area.

With the new river appears, the lake shrank back for 30 meters, for the lake water flow away through the declined river channel.

In recent years, the Zhuonai Lake, Kekao Lake and other has kept risen. Kesai Lakes, however, had had no sign of rising before September. In these three months, it has changed a lot.

The Kesai Lake is located in the northeast of the Hoh Xil nature reserve, with the altitude of 4470 meters and an area of 254.4 square kilometers, the sixth large lake in Hoh Xil Nature Reserve. Before the change happened, it had been an inflow salt water lake. Since September, the lake has changed in area, water level, color and water quality. Reasons for the change are still under analysis.

According to the analysis given by the authority, if the river keeps flowing, the water would fill Haiding Noel lake, then the Salt Lake, then join the Chumaer River and flow into the Tongtian River, which would make its source lake, Saiku Lake, anther source of the Yangtze River. The consequences caused on ecosystems and environment have not been concluded yet.

From: China Tibet Online