Characteristics of Water Environment in Regions of Zhaling and Eling Lakes near Waterhead of Yellow River

Conditions of the water environment in the region of the Zhaling and Eling lakes, which are located in the frozen earth zone on the Qingzang plateau, are unique. The equilibrium of the water quantity of the two lakes is maladjustment under the condition of a dry and cold climate in which evaporation is greater than precipitation. The Zhaling and Eling lakes have been atrophying, leaving three lake terraces and star studded lagoons around the two lakes since Holocene. When these lagoons were separated from the original lakes, they became cut lake basins, and were transformed from fresh water lakes into salt water lakes, salt lakes or salt playas owing to strong evaporation. This kind of evolutionary process will continue in the future.