Introduction
Swan Lake National Wetland Park is located along the banks of the Yellow River in Sanmenxia - a city in central China’s Henan province. This natural refuge contains a vast expanse of water and grasslands that serves as a primary habitat for vegetation such as grasses (e.g. eelgrass), ginkgoes, cedars, irises, daylilies, and peony fields. Reeds, imperata, cattail, mandrake, cocklebur are common in the Sanmenxia swan wetland (China Daily). Additionally, shrubs and sparse growth of black locust, poplar, willow, and paulownia grow on the surrounding hillsides and mountains.
Swan Lake is well-known for the seasonal arrival of migrating swans. Sanmenxia City is known as "China swan town," named for the number of white swans wintering habitat of more than 1/3 of the country (Sanmenxiai Wetland). In 2014, the territory of Sanmenxia wetland swans has reached 1 million, and Swan Lake Wetland nearly 6900. White swans originating from Siberia is approximately 3000 (Peixian, Zhu 2015). Not only is this wetland a home to vegetation and wildlife, but it serves as a domestic interest area for tourist sightseeing and leisure and is a valuable water source for the surrounding human population. |
Photo of Whooper Swans, Swan Lake. By Zhilin Li, Emporia State University 2016.
Photo of Whooper Swans. Photo by Zhilin Li, 2016.
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