Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
This stunning footage shows huge chunks of ice the size of cars being pushed ashore as a lake on the border between China and Russia melts two months earlier than usual.
Footage of the freak natural phenomenon was captured on the shores of Xingkai Lake, which is in the city of Mishan in China’s north-eastern province of Heilongjiang.
In the video taken on 9th February, local residents can be seen backing away from the lake shore as the once frozen surface slowly rises and giant pieces of ice make landfall.
The thick ice blocks – some as big as cars – rise as they hit solid land and flip onto the shoreline.
The incredible sight can be witnessed in Mishan every spring as Xingkai Lake melts in warmer weather.
However, the phenomenon known in mandarin as ‘kaihu’ – or ‘lake opening’ – usually occurs in April, weather experts said.
Last year, Lake Xingkai thawed a month earlier on 22nd March, and this year’s lake opening happened an extra month sooner too.
Meteorological official Hu Xiao told local media: “Xingkai Lake is located in the north at higher latitudes, so it freezes solid in the winter.
“Temperatures have risen this season, so it causes the so-called ‘lake opening’ phenomenon.
“What it actually is is melting caused by rising temperatures.
“There have been significant increases in temperatures in the north-east of our country.
“South-westerly and southern winds then push large chunks of ice ashore.
“Because of the large surface area – the ice isn’t in small pieces – the effects of the strong winds are more pronounced.”
China controls just one-third of Xingkai Lake – an area of about 1,700 square miles – while the remainder is the territory of Russia, where it is known as Lake Khanka.
Mr Hu did not say whether the unusually high early spring temperatures were the result of climate change.
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