Central Taiwan’s famous Sun Moon Lake is experiencing low water levels, leaving many worried about the possibility of a severe drought later this year.
Low water levels in central Taiwan’s Sun Moon Lake are causing alarm. Many say the calm, shrunk lake is starting to look like the famous Jia Ming alpine lake.
One visitor says the pristine lake is so beautiful it brings tears to his eyes.
The low water levels are the result of central Taiwan’s dry season and increased water demand for spring planting.
Sun Moon Lake has a stack of nine stone frogs used to informally describe water levels. But now some visitors are saying a rock newly exposed by the reduced water is the tenth.
Photographer Chen Chi-yuan (陳琪元) says the stone looks like a large toad enjoying the natural scenery.
With the nine frogs all exposed, many fear a repeat of 2021's historic drought. As typhoons have brought less rainfall to Taiwan as a result of climate change, droughts are becoming more frequent in the area.
Economics Ministry official Hung Hsin-chang (洪信彰) says even when the nine frogs are exposed, the lake is 80% full.
The Economics Ministry says though there’s no reason to be alarmed, water use should still be reduced during the winter dry season.