Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake) is a man-made lake located in Chun’an County, Zhejiang, China. It was formed after the completion of the Xin’an River hydroelectric station. 1,078 large islands dot the lake and a few thousand smaller ones are scattered across it. The lake covers an area of 573 km² (221 sq. miles) and has a storage capacity of 17.8 km³. The islands in the lake cover about 86 km² (33.2 sq. miles).

Qiandao Lake, known for its clear, and sometimes drinkable water, is used to produce the renowned Nongfu Spring brand of mineral water. It is also home to lush forests, and exotic islands. Its more popular attractions include Bird Island, Snake Island, Monkey Island, Lock Island (featuring supposedly the world’s biggest lock), and the Island to ‘Remind You of Your Childhood’.

The lake gives Zhejiang an important tourist attraction. Newer housing developments have sprung up since the late 1990s at a reasonable cost to buyers looking for lakeside residences. The dam creating the lake is located at 29°29 01 N 119°12 48 E and is 105 m (344 ft) tall with a crest length of 466.5 m (1,531 ft). Xin’an Dam was the first dam constructed in China with a height greater than 100 m (328 ft) and its power plant has an installed capacity of 845 MW. [Source: Wikipedia]