National

Regional

Taiwan, HK, Macao

Special Coverage

Focus

Society

Profiles

Chaohu Lake faces imminent algae outbreak

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-09 23:09

HEFEI: China's environmental authorities have warned of the imminent danger of a blue algae outbreak in Chaohu Lake, the country's fifth largest freshwater lake in east Anhui Province.

Villagers row a boat on the algae-filled Chaohu lake in Hefei, east China's Anhui province, July 8, 2009. Blue algae has been discovered in the east part of Chaohu Lake, China's fifth largest freshwater lake. [Asianewsphoto]

"The current conditions, including nitrogen and phosphorus contents in water, temperature, wind and sunlight, are favourable for the algae outbreak," said Lu Xiaoping, head of the provincial environmental protection bureau's water environment department.

Special coverage:   World Environment Day Related readings:  Heavy rain causes pollution in Chaohu Lake  Cities battling unwanted water life  Algae threat unlikely in Chaohu Lake  Blue-green algae hits Chaohu Lake  Algae outbreak at Chaohu Lake

Latest satellite pictures show that about 30 square km of the algae has gathered on the western part of the lake.

Lu said the current algae growth has not affected drinking water supply to local residents, since the water intake area is on the eastern side of the lake.

Chaohu is frequently hit by blue algae outbreaks between June and September. An outbreak in July last year suffocated 110 square km of the 700-square km lake area.

Environmental officials said that the algae nurtured mainly by pollutants of nitrogen and phosphorus is not poisonous, and can soon ebb under such conditions as wind, rainfall, or the heat with temperature rising above 37 degree Celsius. But its major harm is to suffocate the lake surface, killing aquatic animals and causing pollution.

   Previous page 1 2 3 4 Next Page  

   Previous page 1 2 3 4 Next Page