Application will be filed soon for China's largest inland salty lake, the Qinghai Lake, on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, for the world's natural heritage, according to the Qinghai Daily.

As the home to rare plateau animals, the Qinghai Lake was chosen as the most charming lake in China in an online campaign involving a million netizens in March 2009. [Photo: china.com.cn]

Lying at an altitude of 3,197 m above sea level, the lake covers an area of 4,236.6 sq km, with an average depth of 19.15 m.

Formed in the course of the rise of the "third pole of the earth," the lake is considered crucial to maintaining the ecological security of the northeastern part of the plateau.

With uniqueness in the course of formation, evolution and geographic environment, it was included in the List of International Major Wetlands and the Convention of the Key Wetlands for Waterfowls' inhabitation and was designated as a national nature reserve and a nation's key scenic spot, respectively.

The Qinghai Lake area is considered the paradise for Przewalski's gazelles, known as "the genius on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau." [Photo: Xinhua]

As the home to rare plateau animals such as naked carps and Przewalski's gazelles and alpine vegetation, it was also chosen as the most charming lake in China in an online campaign involving a million netizens in March 2009.

Experts believe that with abundant animal and plant species and peculiar landform and location, the lake is expected to pick up this laurel with very great value in scientific research and environmental protection.

By now, the list has 878 cultural relics and natural heritages from 145 countries, with 37 coming from China.