![]() Sand mining in the main river and its tributaries and lakes is believed to be responsible for the abnormally low water levels during winters over the past two decades. In winter, the lake’s water flows back out into the river. Poyang Lake is a key flood outlet for the Yangtze River, which overflows during summer and can cause extensive damage to crops and property. It is home to the endangered Yangtze River or finless porpoise, a short-snouted dolphin-like creature known for its ‘smile’ but of which there are only around 1,000 individuals left. ![]() The shallow lake, a national nature reserve, is also a rest stop for over 300 species of migratory birds, including the critically endangered Siberian crane. ![]() At the start of this year, the provincial government revived a project to alleviate drought by regulating water flows between the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake with a 3 km-long sluice gate.Ĭhinese conservationist Zhang Daqian criticized the planned structure, saying it would cut the lake off from the river, “leaving Poyang a dead lake”. Much of the sand used to build the country’s megacities has come from Poyang Lake, in the eastern province of Jiangxi.Īlready ravaged by sand mining, the lake now faces a biodiversity crisis. The most desirable sand for this industry comes from rivers and lakes rather than deserts and oceans. Decades of mass urbanisation in China have fuelled rampant demand for sand to make glass, concrete and other materials used in construction. ![]()
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