A unique island emerges just once a year in China

When the river water level drops to 163 to 168 meters, a turtle-shaped island appears in Trung Khanh.

A unique island emerges just once a year in China

Every spring, tourists and locals flock to the Muodaoxi River in Trung Khanh, China, to admire an island shaped like a floating turtle.

This island only appears for three months when the water level recedes. For the remaining nine months of the year, it completely disappears due to the rising river water. Hence, the island also goes by other names such as 'Spring Turtle Island' or 'Embarrassed Turtle Island.'

The turtle-shaped island is most distinct in the middle of March each year. During this time, the river water level is approximately 163 to 168 meters. In the remaining two months, the river returns to its normal water level of 175 meters or drops to as low as 145 meters. Tourists will only see a small dot of the island floating on the water's surface, or even just the rocky land connecting the island to the adjacent mountain without the turtle shape visible.

The phenomenon of disappearing and reappearing islands originates from the Ma Dao Khe River within the Tam Hiep reservoir area. The water level here is controlled by the Tam Hiep Dam, one of the world's largest hydroelectric plants by installed capacity. Therefore, in spring, water is released from the dam reservoirs downstream, causing the river's water level to drop, and you can see this giant 'turtle'.

The island is only visible at the beginning of the year, so the people of China consider Turtle Island as a sign of spring approaching. 'When we want to remind that spring is coming, we simply say the turtle is coming,' said Meng Liu, a local resident.

The island attracts visitors not only because of its unique appearance but also because the Turtle symbolizes longevity in Chinese culture. Therefore, visiting Turtle Island at the beginning of the new year is believed to bring good luck.

Many tourists have likened this island to the Green Lake Park in Austria, which also appears and disappears every six months. The park is located at the foot of snowy mountains. In spring and summer, the warm weather causes the snow on the mountains to melt, turning the park into a large lake. As autumn and winter approach, this area dries up and returns to its original state. However, Green Lake is a natural phenomenon, while Turtle Island's appearance depends on human intervention.

According to Anh Minh/Vnexpress

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