Large Freshwater Lake Dries Up in Eastern & Central China

Spring drought continues to plague China’s Jiangsu Province — one of its main freshwater lakes has dried up, affecting water supply, traffic and local residents.

Shijiu Lake that covers an area of 77 square miles with a depth of 26 feet is now seeing the bottom of the lake.

The drought is the worst in 60 years in the province.

[Cai Qiang, Local Resident]:
“The pole is usually submerged when the water level is the highest. Yes entirely.”

It hasn’t been easy for fisherman, either.

[Zhang Chunbao, Fisherman]:
“The drought has continued for over a month. All the fish have died. Our income from fishing to make a living has all gone.”

The winter-spring drought has overwhelmed central and eastern China, affecting irrigation and the daily water supply in the farming season.

Part of the largest freshwater lake, Poyang Lake, in Hubei Province, has also dried up and has been closed to shipping.

Most farmland around the Poyang Lake has also dried up, with cracks forming on soil, resulting in a severe cut of rice plantation and fish species.

The five-month drought has left about 315-thousand people and nearly 97-thousand livestock in the province short of drinking water.