Kanas Lake in Xinjiang is a tourist attraction famous for its Nordic-like natural scenery, autumn color feast, and mysterious legend of the ‘lake monster’.
Kanas Lake is located in the north of Burqin County, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. It is a mountain lake nestled in the deep mountains and dense forests of the Altay Mountains. The lake is at an altitude of 1,374 meters, with an area of 45.73 square kilometers, a maximum depth of 188.5 meters, and a water storage capacity of 5.38 billion cubic meters
. The natural landscapes here are extraordinary, including mountains, rivers, forests, lakes, and grasslands, which are integrated with historical and cultural relics such as the General-appointing Platform of Genghis Khan’s Western Expedition Army and ancient rock paintings, as well as the unique folk customs of the Mongolian Tuwa people, forming extremely high tourism value
The scenery of Kanas Lake is unpredictable and changes with the seasons. The color of the lake water sometimes turns as blue as the sea, and sometimes as green as jade, which complements the primitive forest along the lakeside and the snow-capped peaks of the Altai Mountains throughout the year, resembling a replica of the Swiss Alps
. The particularly unique spectacle is the ‘underwater forest’—a kilometer-long dike of deadwood. These hundred-year-old trees that sank to the bottom of the lake have formed a mysterious natural barrier in the center of the lake due to the erosion and accumulation of glacial meltwater
From September to October each year, Kanas welcomes the most splendid season of the year. Golden birch forests, fiery red maple leaves, and dark green pine and cypress trees overlap in layers, reflecting on the shimmering lake surface, forming a flowing oil painting. Moon Bay, Wolong Bay, and other classic autumn color spots are even more fascinating and memorable
Besides natural scenery, Kanas Lake has also added a mysterious atmosphere because of the legend of its ‘lake monster’. Local Tuwa elders say that there is a ‘water monster’ in the lake that can swallow cattle and sheep and overturn wooden boats. Although scientific expeditions have revealed that the ‘lake monster’ is actually a Hucho taimen, the legend still adds a sense of fantasy and the joy of exploration to Kanas Lake
For tourists, Kanas Lake is not only a good place to enjoy natural scenery, but also a mysterious land to experience local culture and legends. Whether it’s climbing up the Fish Viewing Platform to overlook the beauty of the entire lake, or walking along the plank path along the lakeside to feel the tranquility of nature, it can make people feel relaxed and forget the hustle and bustle of the world
In addition, Kanas Lake scenic area has also won numerous honors such as National 5A-level Tourist Attraction, National Geological Park, National Forest Park, Chinese Nature Reserve, and National Natural Heritage. It is an indispensable part of tourism in Xinjiang