Hongze Lake Nature Reserve is located in the southeast of Sihong County, Jiangsu Province. It is the area with the most complete wetland ecosystem preservation in the entire Hongze Lake area.
A natural wetland ecosystem centered on the original Yangmaozui Wetland, a lakeside rare bird sanctuary, an ecological forest park, a biodiversity science popularization area, a 10,000-acre aquaculture ecological demonstration area and a 10,000-acre pollution-free The rice crab three-dimensional breeding demonstration area consists of 6 major functional areas.
The Hongze Lake Wetland Nature Reserve has vast waters and tidal flats and a well-preserved wetland ecosystem. It is the largest freshwater wetland nature reserve in Jiangsu Province. The topography of Hongze Lake Wetland Nature Reserve and surrounding areas is complex and diverse, with wetlands and plains scattered in a mosaic, intertwined waterways, and winding lake shores. The landform can be roughly divided into two types: lake area and lakeside plain. The vegetation is mainly metasequoia, pond fir, fast-growing poplar and other clones. The metasequoia in Hongze Lake belongs to the family Sequoiaceae, looks like a fir and has fallen leaves. The tree can reach a height of 35 meters. The bark peels off into thin slices, and the lateral branches are opposite. The leaves are linear and flat, paired with each other. In winter, they fall off at the same time as the small lateral branches.
The flower bulbs are unisexual and monoecious. The male cones grow opposite each other on the nodes of the branches and gather at the ends of the branches. There are no leaves on this pair of branches, so they are full-shaped and raceme-like. Female cones are solitary on the top of small trees. At this time, the branchlets have leaves and the cones do not hang down. Metasequoia mostly grows in valleys or near foothills in places with gentle terrain, deep soil, and humid or slightly stagnant water. It has strong cold tolerance and strong water and moisture tolerance. It can grow as a light-loving tree species in lightly saline-alkali land. It has a well-developed root system and grows very fast. Determined by soil moisture, it grows slowly in places with long-term water accumulation and poor drainage. The base of the trunk is usually enlarged and has longitudinal ribs.
Metasequoia is a large deciduous tree with a straight trunk and branches extending diagonally to the side. The whole tree is like a pagoda. Its branches and leaves are sparse and its shape is beautiful. It is both simple and elegant, solemn and dignified. The bark is auburn, and the leaves are slender, very flat, hanging downward, and fall off in autumn. Metasequoia has a straight trunk, tall and graceful shape, a conical crown, graceful posture, beautiful green leaves, luxuriant branches, and golden leaves in autumn. It is a famous garden ornamental tree. It likes light and moisture, grows quickly, and can be reproduced by sowing cuttings. It is an ideal tree species for landscaping. Metasequoia can be planted alone, in rows or in groups in parks, courtyards, lawns, and green spaces; it can also be planted in patches to create landscape forests, and is suitable for evergreen ground cover plants; it can also be planted in front of buildings or used as street trees. The effect is good. Metasequoia is not only a famous ornamental tree, but also a good tree species for afforestation in barren mountains. It has strong adaptability and grows extremely fast. In its young stage, it can grow more than one meter per year. The economic value of Metasequoia is very high. Its heartwood is purple-red, and the material is fine, light and soft. It is a good material for shipbuilding, construction, bridges, agricultural tools and furniture. It is also a raw material for papermaking with excellent texture. Metasequoia is the only extant species of the genus and is a relict and precious tree species that is a specialty of my country. It is one of the first rare species listed as a national first-level protected plant and is known as the "living fossil" of the plant kingdom.
The Hongze Lake Wetland Nature Reserve is rich in biological species. Among them, the animals under national first-level protection include great bustard, white stork, black stork and red-crowned crane; the second-level national protection animals include white crane goose, Whooper swans, cygnets, mandarin ducks, gray cranes, birds of prey, etc. The world's endangered bird, the Catharine sparrow, has also recently been discovered.
Sihong Hongze Lake Wetland is a rare "kidney of the earth" with high scientific, ecological, social and economic value. The birds in the reserve not only play an important role domestically, but also enjoy a certain reputation internationally. The plants, fish, birds, etc. in the reserve not only have many varieties and quantities, but also form an independent and complete three-dimensional ecological chain system of self-supply and self-circulation. It is the most valuable "protective place" in the area around Hongze Lake. Natural species gene pool”.
There are many types of aquatic animals and plants in Hongze Lake. The emergent plant community stretching for dozens of miles in the reserve forms a vast "reed marsh", with 165 species of phytoplankton, 91 species of zooplankton, and more. There are 81 species of plants and 76 species of benthic animals; there are national second-level key protected plants of wild soybean, lotus and wild water chestnut; there are many varieties and large numbers of rare birds.
There are 194 species of birds recorded in the reserve, including 4 species of national first-level protected birds; 26 species of national second-level protected birds; 65 species of migratory bird protection agreement between China and Japan; and China-Australia Migratory Bird Protection Agreement. 18 species. The reserve is located at the intersection of different bird migration routes. From late September to early April of the following year, a different group of passing migratory birds will be replaced every 5 to 10 days. Hongze Farm Egret Nature Reserve is located at the intersection of Xuhong River and Sui River on the northeast bank of Hongze Farm. It borders Xuhong River to the east and Longji and Taiping Towns, Hongze Lake to the south and Bancheng Town, and Sunyuan Town to the west. It is adjacent to Zhuhu Town in the north and faces Jieji Town across the river.
After several years of careful protection and strict management, the bird population in the reserve has increased dramatically, greatly improving the reputation of the reserve. The bird protection of Hongze Lake Wetland Reserve not only plays an important role domestically, but also enjoys a certain reputation internationally.
The reserve is a natural spawning ground for fish in Hongze Lake, with 67 species of fish and rich aquatic resources. The fish species in Hongze Lake are mainly composed of carps, accounting for more than half of the species in the entire lake. Lake-dwelling fish such as carp, crucian carp, bream, bream, bream, bream, whitebait, snakehead, mandarin catfish, yellow catfish, etc. They settle in Hongze Lake for life. Their large populations and large quantities have become a major contributor to fishery production. main fish species. Bait-seeking migratory fish include grass carp, herring, silver carp, bighead carp, and catfish.
The current main attractions of the reserve include the Lotus Species Science and Technology Demonstration Park, Water Lily Pond, Bird and Lotus Breeding Area and Shili Lotus Sightseeing Zone.
Hongze Lake developed on the alluvial plain in the middle reaches of the Huaihe River. It was originally a depression with poor drainage, and later accumulated water to form many small lakes. During the Qin and Han Dynasties in my country, they were called the "Fuling" lakes, among which Hongze Lake is the largest and the fourth largest freshwater lake among the five major freshwater lakes in my country. Hongze Lake was called Pofutang in ancient times and was named Hongze Lake in the Tang Dynasty. Because Hongze Lake develops in the depression of the alluvial plain, the lake bottom is shallow and flat, the bank slope is low and gentle, and the lake bottom is higher than the northern Jiangsu Plain in the east, becoming a "hanging lake".
Hongze Lake is the largest lake-type reservoir in the Huaihe River Basin. Its waters are like a soaring swan embedded in the Jianghuai land, so it is also called the "Swan Lake". There is a small island slightly west of the center of Hongze Lake called "Mudun Island". This is the only island on Hongze Lake. With its legendary cultural landscape, beautiful folklore, rich aquatic resources, and charming Hongze Lake scenery, it is known as the "Pearl on the Lake" and the "Treasure Island" of Hongze Lake.
Mudun Island is a small island with an area of ??only more than 1,000 square kilometers, but it is like an emerald inlaid in a white jade plate, like a water bird lying among the blue waves. When you land on the island and look around, you can truly appreciate the vastness, roughness and magnificent landscape of Hongze Lake with water and sky.
The wetland ecosystem of Hongze Lake Wetland Nature Reserve includes swamp wetland, river grass wetland and lakeside aquatic plant wetland. Such a rich concentration of freshwater wetland ecosystem types in the reserve is not only rare in eastern my country, but also rare in the country.
Hongwan Wetland