Breathe in the fresh air. This is Huangsha Reservoir. It is more than just a body of water. It’s a vital part of Shenzhen’s lifeline.
Huangsha Reservoir is essential for irrigation and drinking water. It was built in March 1965. This reservoir has been quenching Shenzhen’s thirst for decades.
Shenzhen has many rivers. There are 362 rivers. Their basin area exceeds 1 km2. The total length is 1,255 km. Seven rivers have a basin area over 100 km2. Shenzhen has constructed 183 reservoirs. Their total storage capacity is 973 million m3. Water surface area totals 81.84 km2. This accounts for about 4.1% of Shenzhen’s land area.
Huangsha Reservoir is part of a larger network. Shenzhen has designated 26 water conservation zones. They cover 361.6 km2. This is 33% of the area within the basic ecological control line.
Shenzhen Reservoir, the largest man-made lake, is located in Luohu District. It is a first-grade water source protection area. The drainage basin covers 65 km2. This area includes urban and forested land in Guangdong.
Imagine the work it took to create this reservoir. Think about the planners. Think about the engineers. Consider the laborers who shaped the land. They built Huangsha Reservoir. It supplies water to millions.
Shenzhen faces water challenges. Its per capita access to water resources is limited. In 2019, it stood at 154.54 m3. This is 1/13th of the national average. Shenzhen relies on the Dongjiang River for 85.40% of its water.
The area around Huangsha Reservoir offers recreation. It is open to the public from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm daily. People come here for hiking and tourism. Nearby are Donghu Park and Fairy Lake Botanical Garden.
Heavy rainfalls and extreme rainstorms happen frequently. The average precipitation is 1,935.8 mm. The annual average rainfall is 144 days. The authorities sometimes discharge water from the reservoir. This is to prevent flooding.
Huangsha Reservoir borders Donghu Park and Fairy Lake Botanical Garden. It drains the western slope of Mount Wutong. The reservoir discharges into the Sham Chun River. This river forms the natural border between Hong Kong and Mainland China. It also drains into the Sha Tau Kok River.
Consider this: Huangsha Reservoir is not just a reservoir. It is a symbol of Shenzhen’s resilience. It shows the city’s commitment to providing for its people. Next time you take a sip of water in Shenzhen, remember Huangsha Reservoir. Remember its vital role in this bustling metropolis.