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Severe drought dries up Chinese lakes
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China's severe drought is continuing in central and southern parts of the country, drying up several well-known lakes. It's also led to losses for the local fishing industry, as well as once fertile farmland.
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Many provinces in China including Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Yunnan, and Sichuan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region seem unable to shake off a drought that's lasted several months. |
It is hard to believe that what we are seeing now, is one of largest lakes in Jiangsu Province, Shijiu lake.
The lake used to be more than 200 square kilometers in size, with a depth of up to 8 meters.
But now the worst drought in the province in 60 years has hardly any water, stranding fishing boats.
Zhang Chunbao, Local fisherman said "My boat's been stranded for more than one month. All the fish have died. I don't have any income right now."
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Many provinces in China including Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Yunnan, and Sichuan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region seem unable to shake off a drought that's lasted several months. |
This lake in Huangmei County of Hubei Province is in the same situation.
Even the only navigable channel is now choked with weeds.
Local fishermen say in the past, boats could always pass through even when the water level was low, but this year, the lake has become a mud flat.
Yang Guoqiao, local fisherman said "There aren't any fish. I could just dig out some river-snails, and sell them for 30 yuan."
The rainfall for the past six months in Hubei provinces is the lowest in 60 years. More than 13-hundred reservoirs are well below capacity.
The water level of China's largest freshwater lake, Poyang Lake in Jiangxi Province, has also fallen to its lowest point in history.
The lake covers around 380 square kilometers now, just 16 percent of its level last year.
The lack of irrigation as also hit 350-thousand acres of rice paddies.
Experts are also worried about the local ecological environment. They say the low water level might threaten fish breeding and the growth of aquatic plants.
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