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The Origin of Hsi Hu or the Western Lake of Hanchow
Author(s) -
Chang H. T.
Publication year - 1924
Publication title -
bulletin of the geological society of china
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1755-6724
pISSN - 1673-274X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-6724.1924.mp3001002.x
Subject(s) - carboniferous , geology , archaeology , ancient history , paleontology , geography , history , structural basin
Summary Hsi Hu, the Western Lake of Hanchow, has been famous as summer resort and playing ground since the Tang and Sung Dynasties. During the time of Han, however, it was called Ming Shen Hu while in the time of three Kingdom, it was called Chien Tang Hu , the latter name being derived from the river, Chien Tang Kiang. Since the Hanchow city was built in the Sui Dynasty which is several hundred years after Han, so the history of Hsi Hu should be reckoned as much older than the city itself. On the other hand, Hsi Hu has never been noticed in any writings before the time when Shiuchinchu was published. The circumference of Hsi Hu is about 30 li or expressed more exactly about 4,987,879 sq. km. in area. The lake is closed by hills on all sides except toward the east. Those hills consist of the Carboniferous limestone, quartzose sandstone and liparite, the last one being of very young age. The sandstone formation could probably be correlated with the Nanking grit of Richthofen; but its contact with the Carboniferous limestone was not observed. On average, the depth of the lake measures about 5‐6 ft., the maximum being not more than 10 ft. Two articles have appeared dealing with the origin of Hsi Hu. The first is by Mr. Sekü, in his “Report on the Geology of Hanchow, Chekiang”, published in Journal of the Geological Society of Tokyo, Vol. XVI, 1909. Mr. Sekü's opinion is briefly as follows: