Special Aquatic Products of Hongze Lake

Special Aquatic Products of Hongze Lake

　　Hongze Lake is located in the southern part of Peiwei Town, Sishui County, Jiangsu Province. Our town has a 22-li shoreline along the lake. It is a shallow-water lake. Formed on the alluvial plain of the middle reaches of the Huai River, its bottom is flat and the shoreline slopes gently. The water depth generally does not exceed 4 meters, with the maximum depth reaching 5.5 meters and an average depth of 1.5 meters. The lake bottom is 4–8 meters higher than the eastern Subei Plain, which is why it is also called a "hanging lake." Hongze Lake was originally a poorly drained depression that later retained water to form many smaller lakes. In China's Qin and Han dynasties, these bodies of water were known as the "Fuling" lakes. Among them, Hongze Lake is the largest, with an area of 2,069 square kilometers, ranking as the fourth-largest freshwater lake among China’s five major freshwater lakes.

　　　　The overall shape of Hongze Lake resembles a swan with its head raised and wings spread, ready to take flight—a magnificent sight. Gazing out over the vast expanse, where the water meets the sky and the sky blends with the water, the shimmering surface glitters brilliantly. Against the lake’s reflection, the sky appears deep blue. Boats traveling north and south, fishing vessels darting to and fro, create a scene of bustling activity with hundreds of boats competing in flow and thousands of sails dancing in unison. Sandpipers gather in flocks, sometimes singing loudly, sometimes soaring into the blue sky, and other times circling around the boats. The chorus of fishing songs accompanied by the melodious chirping of water birds creates a wonderful “symphony of the water town.”

　　　　The water sources of Hongze Lake come not only from atmospheric precipitation but mainly from inflowing rivers. The rivers that flow into Hongze Lake are concentrated in the western part of the lake, including the Huai River, Sui River, Bian River, and An River. The main outlets of the lake include the Sanhe River and the Subei Irrigation Main Canal, which are the primary channels for diverting water from Hongze Lake into the Yangtze River and the sea.

　　　　Historically, Hongze Lake has been described as a place “where a dou of gold can be scooped up at sunrise,” indicating its abundant aquatic resources—an invaluable gift from nature.

　　　　The waters of Hongze Lake are clear, rich in aquatic plants, and teeming with aquatic life. There are 81 species of higher aquatic plants, 67 species of fish, 76 species of benthic animals, and 194 species of birds, including 4 species under national first-class protection and 26 species under second-class protection. The aquatic plants of Hongze Lake are also very famous. Reeds grow almost everywhere in the lake, and in dense areas, they can even hinder boat navigation. Lotus roots, gorgon fruits, and water caltrops have long enjoyed a great reputation, with a saying that “chicken head seeds and water caltrops can serve as half a year’s food supply.” The lake is home to nearly a hundred species of freshwater fish such as carp, crucian carp, bighead carp, black carp, grass carp, and silver carp, as well as Hongze Lake crabs and king prawns. The fish, shrimp, and crabs are exceptionally delicious due to their lack of earthy taste, especially the lobsters, which are renowned both in China and abroad.