Moon Lake

Moon Lake

Located 34 kilometers from Chaihe · Moon Town, it is a high-altitude lake formed by water accumulating in a volcanic caldera after an eruption. The lake is estimated to have formed at least 20,000 years ago. The lake basin sits atop the upper part of a volcanic cone, with a surface diameter of about 220 meters and an elevation of approximately 1,190 meters. It is encircled by a volcanic rim composed of lava and pyroclastic rock. The lake has no inlet or outlet, and its water level remains relatively constant throughout the year. Shaped like a full moon, it is named Moon Lake and is a rare example of a circular, closed volcanic crater lake in the world. The maximum depth of the lake is 6.5 meters. The lakebed is steep and narrow at the edges but flattens out in the center, making it highly suitable for sediment preservation and ideal for paleoclimate and environmental research.