Heaven Lake (Tianchi)
Jilin Sheng
Heaven Lake, also known as Tianchi or Dragon Pool, is a remarkable volcanic crater lake located on Changbai Mountain, spanning the border between China's Jilin Province and North Korea. It is the deepest lake in China, with a maximum depth of 373 meters and an average depth of 204 meters, covering an area of approximately 9.165 square kilometers at an altitude of 2,189 meters. Formed by volcanic activity, the lake lies within a caldera created by a major eruption in 1702. Its waters are exceptionally pure and cold year-round, rarely exceeding 10°C in summer and remaining frozen for about seven months in winter. The lake is the source of three major rivers: the Songhua, Tumen, and Yalu Rivers. Surrounded by steep cliffs and high mountain peaks, Heaven Lake offers breathtaking natural beauty and a unique ecosystem with limited aquatic life due to its harsh environment. It is recognized as the highest volcanic lake in the world and holds significant geological importance as part of the well-preserved Cenozoic volcanic complex of Changbai Mountain. The area is a popular destination for summer and autumn tourism, featuring well-developed visitor facilities on the northern and western slopes of the mountain.
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Astuce: The best time to visit Heaven Lake is during the summer and autumn months when the weather is milder and the lake is ice-free. Winter visits are challenging due to extremely low temperatures and long ice cover. It is advisable to check weather conditions and consider purchasing tickets in advance during peak seasons. Visitors should prepare for high-altitude conditions and dress warmly even in summer. Guided tours are recommended to fully appreciate the geological and cultural significance of the area.
Faits intéressants
- •Heaven Lake is the highest volcanic crater lake in the world, certified by the Guinness World Records in 2000.
- •The lake is the source of three major rivers: the Songhua, Tumen, and Yalu Rivers.
- •Despite its pure waters, the lake has very limited fish species due to its cold temperatures and long ice cover; some fish have been introduced experimentally since the 1980s.
- •The 1199–1201 AD eruption of Changbai Mountain was a massive event that significantly cooled the climate over central Eurasia.
- •The lake remains frozen from November to mid-June, with ice thickness reaching about one meter in winter.
Histoire
Heaven Lake formed within the caldera of Changbai Mountain, a dormant volcano with a complex eruptive history spanning the late Neogene to the Holocene.
The volcanic activity evolved through three main stages: shield-building eruptions producing basaltic lava flows 1.9 to 4.2 million years ago; cone-building eruptions during the Pleistocene producing trachytic and rhyolitic materials; and violent ignimbrite eruptions in the Holocene, including a massive eruption around 4100 years ago known as the 'Tianwen Peak eruption.' The most recent significant eruption occurred in 1702, creating the present caldera lake.
Historically, the lake has been a site of geopolitical importance, with border treaties between Qing China and Joseon Korea in the early 18th century and later agreements defining the China-North Korea boundary through the lake.
The lake's sovereignty remains shared between the two countries.
Guide du lieu
The Crater Lake1702
The elliptical volcanic crater lake formed by the 1702 eruption, renowned for its deep, clear waters and stunning alpine setting at 2,189 meters elevation.
Changbai Mountain Peaks
Surrounding steep cliffs and high peaks form a dramatic backdrop to the lake, including the highest peak known as Baekdu or Changbai Peak.
Contact
Téléphone: 0433 574 2098