There are many places in the world which are famous for their beauty as well as mysteries. One of these is Heaven Lake, which is called Tianchi in China. This lake is located on the border of China and North Korea and attracts both scientists and tourists with its natural beauty. The special thing is that this is not an ordinary lake, but a crater lake built at the mouth of a huge volcano. Heaven Lake is situated on the peak of Mount Changbaishan at an altitude of about 7,200 feet. This volcano was formed after several major explosions that occurred millions of years ago. According to UNESCO, it is considered to be the highest and largest crater lake in North-East Asia. Recently, in a scientific report published in March, it was also told that this is the deepest lake in China. Its maximum depth has been recorded at about 1,224 feet, while its total area is about 9.2 square kilometers.
The most special thing about this lake is its natural view. The 16 hills spread around give it a natural bowl-like shape. Its color and the surrounding scene keep changing in different seasons of the year. In winter this area is covered with a white sheet of snow, while in summer the greenery and clear blue water fascinates the visitors. The place where Heaven Lake is built is a caldera. Caldera is a large crater that is formed after a massive explosion of a volcano. It is believed that the most destructive eruption of Mount Changbaishan occurred in the year 946 AD. This event is known as the “Millennium Eruption” and is counted among the largest volcanic eruptions in modern history. This explosion destroyed the entire area geographical The texture was changed.
Natural texture is not the only reason
Scientists believe that even before this, after an ancient explosion that occurred about 70 thousand to 40 thousand years ago, water started accumulating on the top of this mountain. Gradually a huge lake was formed here. Its water level increased and decreased several times over time. Rain, snow melting and other natural processes constantly reshape this lake. An active geothermal system still exists beneath this area. That means heat and pressure are continuously working inside the earth. According to scientists, underground water keeps coming upwards through fault lines, which also affects the water level of the lake. This is the reason why this area remains an important center of research for geologists.
Heaven Lake remains in the news not only because of its natural structure but also because of the mysterious stories related to it. In the early years of 2000, many shocking claims were made about this lake. Many people claimed to have seen a huge and strange creature inside the lake. Some eyewitnesses said that the head of that creature looked like a horse and its body swam fast in the water. These claims caught the attention of people all over the world and included the lake in the list of mysterious places.
However, scientists do not agree with these claims. They say that it is almost impossible for any large creature to survive for a long time in a lake located at such a height and with extremely cold water. Till now no scientific evidence has been found that confirms the existence of these mysterious creatures. Therefore, most experts consider them to be part of folklore or people’s imagination. UNESCO says Mount Changbaishan is one of the world’s best-preserved stratovolcanoes. Clear evidence of the development of the volcano and its separate eruptions is still present here. For this reason it is sometimes called “open air classroom”. Scientists coming here keep studying continuously to understand the history of the earth and volcanic activities.
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The importance of this mountain is not limited to science only. In North Korea it is called Mount Paektu, which means “white-topped mountain”. Whereas in China it is called Changbaishan, which means “mountain that is always white”. This mountain has a special place in the culture and history of both the countries. This is the reason why in the past, differences have arisen many times between China, North Korea and South Korea regarding this area.
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