Liangzi Lake

Liangzi Lake (Chinese: 梁子湖; pinyin: Liángzi Hú), originally Fan Lake (Chinese: 樊湖),^[1] is a freshwater lake in the southeast of Hubei Province, divided between the Liangzihu Scenic Spot Office of Jiangxia District, Wuhan and the Liangzihu District of Ezhou City (both areas named after the lake). This rural area south of Wuhan, situated in the south bank of the middle reaches of Yangtze River. The lake is 370 km², with a drainage area of 3265 km², an elevation of 20 m, length 31.7 km and mean width 9.6 km (max 12.3 m).^[2] The shoreline of lake is highly indented.

Map including Liangzi Lake (labeled as Liang-tzu Hu 梁子湖) (1953)

Liangzi Lake
Liangzi Lake
Location	Liangzihu District (Ezhou) and Jiangxia District (Wuhan), Hubei
Coordinates	30°14′25″N 114°31′13″E
Lake type	Fresh water lake
Catchment area	3,265 km2 (1,261 sq mi)
Basin countries	China
Max. length	31.7 km (20 mi)
Max. width	12.3 km (8 mi)
Surface area	370.0 square kilometres (142.9 sq mi)
Average depth	4.16 m (14 ft)
Max. depth	6.2 m (20 ft)
Water volume	1,265×10^6 m3 (44.7×10^9 cu ft)
Surface elevation	20 m (66 ft)

Liangzi Lake appears to have two outlets. On the northers side of the lake, a small river or canal flows from Liangzi into Tangxun Lake, an urban lake on the south side of Wuhan, which eventually drains into the Yangtze. On the eastern side of the lake, another river flows from Liangzi Lake toward Ezhou, where it enters the Yangtze as well.^{[citation needed]}

On January 1, 2018, Ezhou officially implemented a new law called "Liangzihu District Marine Life Protection Zone Absolute Fishing Ban Work Implementation Plan" (《梁子湖区水生生物保护区全面禁捕工作实施方案》).^[3] The lake is rich in fish and it is the origin of Wuchang Bream.^{[citation needed]}

Analysis of core samples extracted from the bottom of the lake allows scientists to measure the presence of metals such as copper, lead, nickel and zinc in the environment over the last several thousand ages; they provide evidence for the existence of mining and metal smelting in the region as early as 1500 BC, during the time of the State of Chu.^[4] (The Huangshi/Daye region east of the lake continues to be a mining and metallurgical center to this day.)

"Sister Lakes" partnership has been established between Liangzi Lake and Lake Pepin in Minnesota.^[5]