Big Dragon Lake

Big Dragon Lake

Big Dragon Lake stretches 2,500 meters from east to west and 1,000 meters from north to south, forming an irregular oval shape. It covers an area of approximately 2.5 square kilometers, with a maximum depth of 92 meters and an average depth of 30 meters. Its water volume is about 75 million cubic meters, and it was formed around 18,000 to 29,000 years ago.

Big Dragon Lake boasts expansive, crystal-clear waters surrounded by mountains. The peaks are capped with year-round snow, and the slopes are covered with lush green cypresses, pines, and verdant grasslands dotted with herds of cattle and sheep. Occasionally, you might spot snowcocks, Mongolian gazelles, and even snow leopards. The most captivating feature of Big Dragon Lake is its tranquil, mirror-like surface. The name "Dragon Pool" may originate from a beautiful legend recorded in *A Record of the Western Regions of the Great Tang Dynasty*.

Downstream from Big Dragon Lake lies an ancient glacial terminal moraine dam, stretching 1,250 meters from east to west and 600 meters from north to south, at an elevation of 2,492 meters. It is composed of assorted rock fragments of varying sizes piled together, rising about 60 meters above the lake surface. The moraine dam also features numerous kettle holes of different sizes, which are funnel-shaped depressions left behind after large blocks of ice within the glacial debris melted away.

The water of Big Dragon Lake comes from the melting snow and ice of surrounding mountains, as well as rainfall that gathers in the valley. Blocked by the moraine dam, it forms the lake. In summer, increased snowmelt and abundant rainfall cause the lake surface to expand, while in winter, reduced water supply leads to a corresponding shrinkage. The lake has no obvious surface outlet; instead, its water flows underground through gaps formed by massive stacked rocks beneath the moraine dam, eventually reaching Small Dragon Lake.