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Qinghai Lake keeps growing

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-11-03 16:00

The water level of Qinghai Lake has gone up some 10 centimeters in the first half of this year, rising for a total of 54 centimeters between 2005 and 2008, according to statistics from Qinghai Water Resources Bureau, xinhuanet reported.

Related readings:  Amazing Qinghai Lake

"It's the fifth consecutive year we have seen a rise on the Qinghai Lake since we set up the observation station in 1955," Duan Shuiqiang, a senior engineer with Qinghai Water Resources Bureau, said, "It only happened twice since then, which lasted two years respectively."

Affected by global warming and human impact, the water level of Qinghai Lake dropped 3.78 meters and the surface area reduced 362.3 sq km in the past 50 years. But the condition has changed since 2005.

"More rainfall is the main reason," Duan said.

Dai Sheng, an engineer with Qinghai Climate Research Center, said, "More rain makes the air around the lake more humid, and thus reduces the evaporation from the water."