Bosten Lake (15447)
China (mainland), Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Bosten Lake
Central coordinates: Latitude: 42.0000, Longitude: 87.0000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1048 to 1100
Area of KBA (km2): 2661.73507
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Located 60 km east north-east of Korla City and 200 km south of Urumqi. Bosten Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China, with an area of 1,001 km2. The Karaxahar (Kaidu) River flows into the lake. There are extensive reedbeds and marshes around the lake, and it is an important breeding and staging site for birds.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Non-bird biodiversity: There were historical records of Panthera tigris, but it is now locally extinct. Other animals include Vulpes vulpes and Sus scrofa.
Delineation rationale: Boundary digitized by Tris Allinson at Birdlife International using Google Earth. Accuracy Good.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |