Basic Profile
Known as the Blue Pearl on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Whale Lake, also named Yin-Yang Lake, is nestled deep in the Kunlun Mountains, in the southern part of Altun Mountain National Nature Reserve, Ruoqiang County, Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region若羌县人民.... It stands at the junction of Xinjiang, Qinghai and Xizang, being the largest alpine lake across this triple-border zone.
Altitude: 4,708 meters above sea level
Dimensions: 37 km from east to west, 7.6 km from north to south, covering a water area of roughly 260 km²
Water depth range: 2–10 meters
Water supply: Mainly recharged by glacial meltwater from Yulang River plus mountain spring water若羌县人民...
鲸鱼湖卫星图
湖区全景
东湖水鸟
Origin of Two Names
1. Whale Lake
Viewed from aerial satellite imagery, the overall outline of the lake is exactly like a giant whale lying horizontally on the barren plateau, with its head facing east and tail toward the west, hence the official name Whale Lake (Jingyu Hu). This lake was initially discovered through satellite remote sensing and later verified by field geological surveys, making it one of the latest mapped mountain lakes in China.
2. Yin-Yang Lake (the iconic feature)
A 7.5-kilometer natural gravel dike rises 2–4 meters above the water surface at the eastern one-seventh section of the lake, naturally partitioning the water body into eastern and western halves. The dike is around 200 meters wide with narrow gaps for weak water communication between two parts, forming a rare dual-water inland alpine lake landscape worldwide.
Eastern Lake (Yang side, lively freshwater area)
Sustained by abundant glacial meltwater from Yulang River, its salinity stays low with abundant plankton. Every summer, flocks of brown-headed gulls, ruddy shelducks and other waterfowl gather here to forage, breed and inhabit. The lake is filled with flying birds and vibrant aquatic life, presenting a lively ecological scene.
Western Lake (Yin side, lifeless hypersaline area)
Receives almost no freshwater replenishment. Under strong plateau evaporation over long years, the salinity has nearly reached saturation. Hardly any organisms can survive in this stagnant hyper-saline water, forming a silent, desolate dead water zone.
The sharp contrast between the vigorous eastern half and the bleak western half gives birth to the vivid folk name Yin-Yang Lake.
Natural Environment & Ecological Value
The lake lies within China’s famous Altun No Man’s Land, featured with frigid high-altitude climate: annual average temperature below 0℃ and annual precipitation merely 200–300 mm, with thin air and severe oxygen shortage all year round. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and vast Gobi deserts, the sapphire lake water shimmers against glaciers and wilderness, forming a stunning primitive plateau landscape.
As a core habitat in the national nature reserve, Whale Lake safeguards plateau water birds, wild donkeys, Tibetan wild asses and a great number of rare wild species, functioning as an indispensable ecological buffer in the arid Kunlun mountain basin.
Tourism Tips
The lake is located in an uninhabited restricted wilderness area. Independent self-driving visits are not allowed; visitors must apply for official entry permits and join organized exploration teams with professional local guides.
The optimal visiting window is June to September (summer), when the weather is relatively mild and water birds are most active; winter is extremely cold with road freeze-up.
Prepare high-altitude sickness medicine, warm windproof outfits, sufficient drinking water and outdoor supplies. No shops or service facilities are available around the lake.
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