Research topic: Dongting

Dongting or Tungting , shallow lake, Hunan prov., SE China; one of China's largest lakes. It is fed by the Yuan, Zi, Xiang, and many smaller rivers; a canal connects it with the Chang River. Depending on the season, the Dongting varies in size from 1,400 to 4,000 sq mi (3,626-10,360 sq km). It attains its maximum extent during the period of heavy summer rains, when the lake receives the overflow from the Chang, which it serves as a natural reservoir. The heavily populated lake basin is one of China's leading rice-producing regions; tea is also an important crop. Author not avail... Read more