Lake Tai
Taihu (Chinese: 太湖), also known as Lake Tai or Lake Taihu, is a lake in the Yangtze Delta and one of the largest freshwater lakes in China. The lake is in Jiangsu province and a significant part of its southern shore forms its border with Zhejiang. With an area of 2,250 square kilometers (869 sq mi) and an average depth of 2 meters (6.6 ft), it is the third-largest freshwater lake entirely in China, after Poyang and Dongting. The lake contains about 90 islands, ranging in size from a few square meters to several square kilometers.
| Lake Tai | |
|---|---|
| Taihu, T'ai-hu | |
| 太湖 (Chinese) | |
Lake scenery at Wuxi | |
Lake Tai Location in Jiangsu Lake Tai Location in Zhejiang Lake Tai Lake Tai (Eastern China) | |
| Location | southern Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang |
| Coordinates | 31°14′N 120°8′E |
| Basin countries | China |
| Surface area | 2,250 km2 (869 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 2 m (6.6 ft) |
| Islands | 90 |
| Settlements | Huzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi |
| Lake Tai | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 太湖 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Great Lake | ||||||||||
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Lake Tai is linked to the Grand Canal and is the origin of a number of rivers, including Suzhou Creek. In recent years, Lake Tai has been plagued by pollution as the surrounding region experienced rapid industrial development.