Heaven Lake
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| Heaven Lake | |
|---|---|
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| Location | North Korea / China |
| Coordinates | 42°00′22″N 128°03′25″E / 42.006°N 128.057°ECoordinates: 42°00′22″N 128°03′25″E / 42.006°N 128.057°E |
| Lake type | crater lake |
| Primary inflows | precipitation |
| Basin countries | North Korea, China |
| Surface area | 9.82 km2 (3.79 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 213 m (699 ft) |
| Max. depth | 384 m (1,260 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 2,189.1 m (7,182 ft) |
| Korean name | |
|---|---|
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 천지 |
| Hancha | 天池 |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ch'ŏnji |
| Revised Romanization | Cheonji |
Heaven Lake (Ch'ŏnji or Cheonji in Korean; 天池 in Chinese) is a crater lake on the border between China and North Korea. It lies within a caldera atop the volcanic Baekdu Mountain, a part of the Baekdudaegan mountain range and the Changbai mountain range. It is located partly in Ryanggang Province, North Korea, at 42°00′22″N 128°03′25″E / 42.006°N 128.057°E, and partly in Jilin Province, northeastern China.
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[edit] Geology and limnology
The caldera which contains Heaven Lake was created by a major eruption in 969 AD (± 20 years).[1]
The lake has a surface elevation of 2,189.1 m (7,182 ft). The lake covers an area of 9.82 km² (3.79 sq mi) with a south-north length of 4.85 km (3.01 mi) and east-west length of 3.35 kilometres (2.08 mi). The average depth of the lake is 213 m (699 ft) and maximum depth of 384 m (1,260 ft). From mid-October to mid-June, it is typically covered with ice.
[edit] Names and legends
In ancient Chinese literature, Tianchi also refers to Nanming (南冥 sometimes translated as "southern sea").
Some other well-known lakes named Tianchi include those in Xinjiang and Taiwan.
In North Korean legend, Kim Jong-il is claimed to have been born near the lake on the mountain.
[edit] Lake Tianchi Monster
Many believe that the lake is home to the Lake Tianchi Monster.[2] It is unknown if the monster and legendary Kun are related.
On September 6, 2007, Zhuo Yongsheng (director of a TV station's news center run by the administration office of the nature reserve at Mount Changbaishan, Jilin), shot a 20-minute video of 6 seal-like, finned "Lake Tianchi Monsters", near the border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). He sent pictures of the Loch Ness-type creatures to Xinhua's Jilin provincial bureau. One of them showed the creatures swimming in 3 pairs, in parallel. Another showed them together, leaving ripples on the volcanic lake.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Horn, Susanne; Schmincke, Hans-Ulrich (2000). "Volatile emission during the eruption of Baitoushan Volcano (China/North Korea) ca. 969 AD". Bulletin of Volcanology 61 (8): 537–555. doi:.
- ^ "Chinese monster rivals Nessie". BBC News Newsround. 2003-07-31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/animals/newsid_3114000/3114507.stm.
- ^ English.people.com, 'Tianchi monster' caught on film
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