Wetlands, the "Kidney of the Earth”, are one of the three ecosystems of the world, with the other two being forests and oceans. As a unique ecosystem produced by water-land interaction, they are fundamentally characterized by seasonal or permanent water pools, and the growth or inhabitation of hygrophilous animals and plants. This is why wetlands are the most bio diversified ecoscape of nature and one of the most important living environments of human beings.
With a developed water system, the area drained by the Songhuajiang and Liaohe rivers boasts abundant wetland resources, most of which are distributed mid- to-downstream of the Nenjiang River and on the Three- river Plain formed by the Songhuajiang, Heilongjiang and Wusulijiang rivers. As one of the major homes of wetlands in the country, it contains ecologically crucial wetlands that are the largest in China.
Zhalong Wetland is China's largest wetland nature reserve of rare birds, most of which are cranes and other water fowl. Located 26 km southeast of Qiqihar City in western Heilongjiang Province, its 210,000 hectares contain a wetland ecosystem that is the best conserved and the most primitive and expansive across its latitude in northern China.
With luscious reed and grass flourishing in a vast area of swamps and numerous lakes, the reserve is teeming with fish and shrimp. Its peaceful and beautiful landscape is home to more than 150 species of birds, including a great number of species of cranes, making it the “home of cranes".
Zhalong is primarily a reserve of the precious red- crowned cranes and wetland ecology. Each April to May, more than 200 red-crowned cranes and other water birds come and breed here, and nearly 1,000 white cranes visit on their northward migration to Russia. Red-crowned cranes mostly inhabit reed swamps and Carex tatos. The 1 m-to-3m-high reed is inaccessible to human beings, becoming an ideal place for the living and breeding of these precious water birds. In fact, more than 100,000 economically valuable wild birds can be hatched here each year.
Besides petroleum, the wetland is another treasure that nature has bequeathed to Daqing. The Daqing wetland covers 1.2 million hectares, accounting for nearly 60% of the total land area in Daqing city.
The wetland has been developed from slow-flowing rivers and streams, ponds, fresh lakes, and adjacent swamps. It satisfies all the standards to qualify as a wetland, and is a unique wetland with special animals and plants, and a habitat of many water birds.
In addition to the many lakes and swamps, the wetland also contains grasslands, meadows, a natural secondary forest, natural shrubs, artificial forests, and sand land. All these form many magnificent views over the land. In early summer, it is green everywhere. The swinging reed and flying birds make you feel you are in an oasis in a city.
The information is provided by presentation of "Songliao Basin" from China National Petroleum Corporation.
Comment list ( 0 )
