China's largest freshwater lake enters dry season at earliest recorded date

NANCHANG, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's largest freshwater lake, Poyang, entered dry season on Saturday, the earliest date since records started in 1951, according to the local hydrological monitoring center.

The water level at the lake's landmark Xingzi hydrological station receded to 11.99 meters at 2 a.m. Saturday, meaning the Lake has entered the dry season, according to the hydrological monitoring center in east China's Jiangxi Province, where the lake is located.

The date is 16 days earlier than the previous record, registered on Aug. 22, 2006, according to the center.

The center noted that the lake saw rapid decrease in water levels due to continuous high temperature and relatively less water flowed from the Yangtze River.

Starting June 23, the water level at the Xingzi hydrological station dropped 7.44 meters over 44 days, with a daily average drop of 0.17 meters, statistics from the center showed.

Meteorological forecast shows Jiangxi Province will continue to have high temperature and little rain in the coming 10 days. With water from the Yangtze River basin remaining a little less than normal range, water level in Poyang Lake is expected to continue the downward trend.