Chagan Lake (China)

For the lake in Kazakhstan, seeLake Chagan (Kazakhstan).

Chagan Lake
Tra càn hồ(Chinese)
Chagan Lake
Location	Jilin,China
Coordinates	45.25°N 124.28°E/45.25; 124.28
Basincountries	China
Surface area	307 km2(119 sq mi)
Average depth	4 m (13 ft)
Water volume	415×10^6m3(14.7×10^9cu ft)

Chagan Lake(Chinese:Tra càn hồ;pinyin:chágān hú) is alakeinJilin,China.The name "Chagan"is fromMongolian(ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨ
ᠨᠠᠭᠤᠷ,transliteration:Chaɣan naɣur,Cyrillic mongolian:цагаан нуур,transliteration MNS:tsagaan nuur), meaningwhite / pure lake(see alsoChagan Riverre. anothertoponymincluding the Mongolian adjectivetsagaan). It is often referred to as theSacred LakeorHoly Water Lake(simplified Chinese:Thánh thủy hồ;traditional Chinese:Thánh thủy hồ;pinyin:shèngshuǐ hú) by local people. The lake is known for its traditional winter fishing, featuring a technique which dates back to prehistoric times.

Chagan Naoer winter fishing tradition

Chagan Lake is the only place in which the oldest of Mongolian fishing methods is preserved. It is listed as a NationalIntangible Cultural Heritageof the People's Republic of China.

The annual Winter Fishing Festival is held to keep this ancient tradition alive.Fishermen first drill many holes through the thick ice and then use these holes to carefully position a 2 km net under the ice. The net and its catch is then hauled out of the largest hole by means of acapstan(see alsoWhim (mining)) turned byMongolian horses.The Lake set aGuinness World Recordof a single net that yielded 104,500 kg (230,400 lb) of fish in 2006, and broke its own record with 168,500 kg (371,500 lb) of fish in 2009. The principal species thus netted is theBighead carp- a popular food fish, particularly at theChinese New Year,when the consumption of fish is considered to bring good fortune in the year to come.