Tianchi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Tianchi (disambiguation).
Tian Chi of Tian Shan, Xinjiang, with Bogda Peak in the distance. (2005.8)
Tian Chi of Tian Shan, Xinjiang, with Bogda Peak in the distance. (2005.8)

Tianchi (天池) is a lake in Xinjiang, China. The name literally means "Heaven Lake" or "Heavenly Lake" (in Mandarin Chinese) and can refer to several lakes in China and Taiwan. This Tianchi lies on the north side of Bogda Peak of Tianshan Mountains, about 40 km east of Fukang County and 110 km east of Urumqi, in China. (Bogda is a Mongolian word, meaning "God".) It is an alpine drift lake shaped in the Quaternary Glacier period.

Formerly known as Yaochi (Jade Lake), it was named Tianchi by Mingliang in 1783, the Qing Dynasty Commander of Urumqi Command.

The lake is 2,000 m above sea level, covering 4.9 sq km, 105 m deep at the deepest point.

In 2006, it was designated for four years of restoration work at a cost of 800 million yuan (US$100 million). The plan calls for the tourism area around the lake to be increased from the present 158 sq km to 548 sq km.

The lake was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1990.

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