Wudalianchi has two strings of native "Tanghulu"! If you don't believe it, take a look →

The Wudalianchi volcanic group is located in the northern part of Wudalianchi City, Heilongjiang Province, my country. It is named after the five lakes in the volcanic area that are connected to each other. These lakes were formed by the lava flow produced by the recent volcanic eruption, which blocked the Baihe River (also known as Shilong River) flowing from north to south, forming five beaded volcanic barrier lakes, namely: the first pool (also known as Lotus Lake), the second pool (also known as Dalei Pool or Yanshan Lake), the third pool (also known as Bailong Lake), the fourth pool (also known as Jingbo Pool or Heming Lake) and the fifth pool (also known as Ruyi Lake). The five lakes are about 20 kilometers long and have a water capacity of about 170 million cubic meters. It is the second largest volcanic barrier lake in my country. The geographical coordinates of the Wudalianchi volcanic group range from 48°00′-49°30′ north latitude and 125°30′-126°45′ east longitude, covering an area of ​​about 988.66 square kilometers. On February 13, 2004, it was approved by UNESCO as the first batch of World Geoparks.

The Wudalianchi volcanic group is one of the Cenozoic intraplate active volcanoes in Northeast China, bordering the Greater Khingan Range to the west, the Lesser Khingan Range to the north, and the Songliao Basin to the south. The volcanic group is located on the north side of the central depression area of ​​the Songliao Basin, and is mainly controlled by the northeast and northwest faults. There are 14 volcanoes distributed along the strike direction of the northeast fault, including eight volcanoes on the west side, namely Weishan, Huoshaoshan, Laoheishan (also known as Heilongshan), Bijiashan, Yaoquanshan, Wohushan, Nanglaqiushan and Beiglaqiushan; and six volcanoes on the east side, namely Xiaogushan, Donglongmenshan, Morabushan, Xilongmenshan, Dongjiaodebushan and Xijiaodebushan. They are roughly divided into two columns and spread along the northeast direction, like two strings of native "candied haws". Among them, the Nanglaqiushan volcano has the highest altitude, about 596.9 meters; the Yaoquanshan volcano has the lowest altitude, about 355.8 meters. The rock types exposed in the volcanic area are mainly high-potassium basaltic volcanic rocks. Compared with the magnificent basaltic lava in the Jingbo Lake volcanic area in Heilongjiang Province and the strange basaltic lava in the Longgang volcanic area in Jilin Province, the basaltic lava distributed over a large area in the Wudalianchi volcanic area is more colorful! The volcanic landforms of Wudalianchi include volcanic cones, craters, lava terraces, lava tunnels and lava barrier lakes.

Location map of the Wudalianchi volcano group in Heilongjiang Province (left, from GF-2 Earth observation image) and digital elevation model map of the Wudalianchi volcanic area (right, from the National Geographic Information Public Service Platform)

Chinese traditional snack Bingtanghulu (also known as Tanghulu) (Photo from the Internet)

Basaltic lava in the Wudalianchi volcanic area in Heilongjiang Province (left picture, sourced from the Internet), basaltic lava in the Jingbohu volcanic area in Heilongjiang Province, and basaltic lava in the Longgang volcanic area in Jilin Province (middle and right pictures, sourced from the Institute of Volcanology, China Earthquake Administration)

The Laohei Mountain and Huoshao Mountain in the Wudalianchi volcanic group erupted in 1719-1721, more than 300 years ago. The basaltic magma ejected by the volcano condensed and solidified into lava, thus creating a variety of topography and landforms in the volcanic area. Among them, the Laohei Mountain volcano is about 515.9 meters above sea level, with a towering volcanic cone and sparse vegetation. Most of the cone is composed of black basaltic volcanic rocks and volcanic eruption sediments, so it is named "Laohei Mountain". The winding mountain roads on the east and north sides of the volcanic cone can lead to the top of the mountain. There is a funnel-shaped crater on the top of the cone, with a diameter of about 350 meters, a depth of about 140 meters, and a steep inner wall. The main body of the volcano is composed of two volcanic cones, one early and one late. The early cone was destroyed and regenerated by the late eruption. The difference in the formation period of the early and late cones can also be observed from the density of the growing vegetation. The volcano is surrounded by a relatively flat volcanic lava platform, and on its north side is a large area of ​​exposed slag-like basaltic lava, which is locally called Fanhua Lava or Stone Sea. The basaltic lava around the Laoheishan volcano is in a belt-like shape and extends to the south for about 17 kilometers, shaped like a huge dragon, so it is also called "Stone Dragon" by the locals.

Huoshaoshan volcano erupted from April 26 to June 1721. It is composed of black basaltic volcanic rocks, red basaltic pumice and volcanic eruption sediments. The crater looks like a "broken pot" that has been burned by fire, so it is named "Huoshaoshan". Huoshaoshan volcano is relatively small in size, with an altitude of about 392.6 meters, an inner diameter of the crater of about 450 meters and a depth of about 63 meters. The southern slope of the volcanic cone is steeper, the northern slope is gentler, and the eastern part is close to the Sanchi area of ​​Wudalianchi, so the vegetation is lush.

Nanglaqiushan Volcano, also known as Fuqingshan, erupted 2.07-2.1 million years ago. The crater is about 470 meters in diameter and 50 meters deep. It is the highest volcano in the Wudalianchi volcano group. The water in the crater is called "Tianchi". In autumn, the water plants in the pool are golden, as if covering Tianchi with a golden blanket. In winter, Nanglaqiushan Volcano is like a magnificent ink painting, dreamy and blurred under the cover of fog!

Yaoquanshan volcano, also known as Jileshan, has a circular crater with an inner diameter of about 230 meters and a depth of about 32 meters. There are many mineral springs at the foot of the mountain, and it is named Yaoquanshan because its spring water has a history of curing diseases. Yaoquanshan volcano erupted about 930,000 years ago. It is one of the older volcanoes in the Wudalianchi volcanic group and the volcano with the lowest altitude. There is a Buddhist temple facing east and west in the crater, named Zhongling Zen Temple (also known as Zhongling Temple), which was built in 1928. When you climb to the top of the mountain, you can see Wudalianchi on the left, Wohushan volcano on the right, Bijiashan volcano with three peaks standing in the back, and the shimmering Nemoer River in front. Therefore, Zhongling Zen Temple is called a miracle among the world's Buddhist buildings.

In short, compared with the high-end international style of Italy's Etna large active volcano, Italy's Stromboli large active volcano and China's Changbai Mountain Tianchi large active volcano, the "charm" of the Wudalianchi volcanic group's harmonious coexistence between man and nature cannot be replicated!

The Laoheishan volcano in the Wudalianchi volcano group, the Yaoquanshan volcano in Wudalianchi, and the Nanglaqiushan volcano in autumn and winter (all pictures are from the Internet)

Italy's Etna large active volcano, Italy's Stromboli large active volcano and China's Changbai Mountain Tianchi large active volcano (all original images)

According to the historical document "Heilongjiang Waiji", "Southeast of Moergen (now Nenjiang), one day, fire suddenly appeared in the ground, rocks flew into the air, and the sound shook the surrounding areas. After a few days, the fire was extinguished, and the area became a pond. This happened in the 58th year of Emperor Kangxi (1719)." "Ningguta Jilue" also records, "Fifty miles away from the city (Dedu), there is a water pond, with a circumference of thirty miles. In June and July of the 59th year of Emperor Kangxi (1720), smoke and fire suddenly shot up into the sky, and the sound was like thunder, which continued day and night, and could be heard for fifty or sixty miles. What flew out were all black rocks, sulfur, and the like. After years of continuous activities, they formed a mountain and reached the city." This shows that the Wudalianchi volcano group is still active in modern times.

In addition, geophysical exploration results such as magnetotelluric, teleseismic imaging, gravity and magnetism in the volcanic area show that there are magma chambers in the upper crust at the bottom of Laoheishan, Huoshaoshan and Weishan volcanoes, among which the magma chamber at the bottom of Weishan volcano is located at a depth of about 6.5 to 8 kilometers. The continuous waveform data of earthquakes recorded from June 1, 2015 to June 1, 2019 show that the earthquakes below the Wudalianchi volcanic area present a "conical" spatial distribution, indicating that there is still magma activity at the bottom of the volcanic area. More than 100 springs have been found in the volcanic area, and the volcanic gases released include H2O, Rn, He, CO2, etc. In addition to atmospheric and crustal sources, there are also mantle-derived components. Existing earthquake monitoring data in the volcanic area show that earthquakes in the volcanic area are mainly micro-earthquakes. Among them, from 1983 to 2021, a total of 1,828 earthquakes were recorded in the volcanic area, mainly tectonic earthquakes (data from the Institute of Volcanoes of the China Earthquake Administration, Jilin Provincial Seismological Bureau and Heilongjiang Provincial Seismological Bureau). The above evidence also shows that the Wudalianchi volcanic group is still active today.

Long-term volcanic activity has led to the development of more than 300 mineral springs in the Wudalianchi area, making it one of the "three major cold springs in the world" on par with Vichy in France and the North Caucasus in Russia. The volcanic area mainly includes many rivers such as Shilong River, Yaoquan River, Zhangtongshigou, and several volcanic dammed lakes. The lakes are rich in fish resources, including carp, crucian carp, catfish, silver carp, grass carp, and gaiyazi. The meat is tender and rich in various minerals and trace elements. The taste is obviously better than that of ordinary freshwater fish. Because of its unique growth environment and mineral content, it is also known as "mineral fish". Taking a boat tour in the volcanic area, watching the beautiful scenery of rippling blue waves and volcanic groups, is like being in a fairyland on earth. If the soft light beauty brought by the sunset in the Scampi Flegrei super active volcano area in Italy and the large active volcano area in the Italian volcanic island is intoxicating, then the lakes and mountains and the sunset afterglow in the Wudalianchi volcanic area are even more refreshing and unforgettable.

Wudalianchi Lake (also known as Lotus Lake) under a clear sky (original image) and a huge amount of basaltic lava (locally known as Fanhua Lava or Stone Sea) (image from the Internet)

Sunset in China's Wudalianchi volcanic area (left, sourced from the Internet), sunset in Italy's Scampi Flegrei super-active volcano area, and sunset in Italy's Volcano Island (transliterated name: Vulcano) large active volcano area (middle and right, original images)

The Wudalianchi volcanic area is located in a high-latitude area and belongs to the mid-temperate continental monsoon climate zone with distinct four seasons. It is also affected by the cold temperate humid climate of the Greater Khingan Range and the temperate semi-humid and semi-arid climate of the Songnen Plain. From September to October every year, the Wudalianchi volcanic area has golden leaves, gray-green mosses, and bright red mountain ash trees, forming a gorgeous autumn beauty. In addition, a group of small higher plants grow on the surface of volcanic rocks in the volcanic area, which are mosses. There are 47 families, 128 genera, and 286 species of mosses in the Wudalianchi volcanic area. The rich and diverse mosses, set against the black basaltic volcanic lava, are like exquisite embroidery, forming a unique natural landscape in the volcanic area. Botanists have found that the dominant families and genera of mosses growing on volcanic rocks formed in different eruption eras of the volcanic group are different, and the moss flora of the Wudalianchi volcanic area is closely related to the Changbai Mountain area in Jilin Province.

Moss growing on basaltic lava in the Wudalianchi volcanic area in Heilongjiang Province (left picture, sourced from the Internet), moss growing on trachyte in the Tianchi volcanic area in Changbai Mountain, Jilin Province, and moss growing on granite in the Changbai Mountain area in Jilin Province (middle and right pictures, both original pictures)

This issue of science popularization ends! Friends, see you next time!

References in this issue:

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Author of this issue: Xu Zhitao, PhD, Institute of Volcanology, China Earthquake Administration, Jilin Province Earthquake Bureau

Sun Liying, Assistant Engineer, Jilin Earthquake Station, Jilin Province Earthquake Bureau

Ye Xiqing, Engineer, Institute of Volcanology, China Earthquake Administration, Jilin Province Earthquake Administration

Ren Fangyu, Jilin Earthquake Station, Jilin Province Earthquake Bureau, Assistant Engineer

Wu Haijun Wudalianchi Earthquake Monitoring Center Station Heilongjiang Province Earthquake Bureau Senior Engineer

Zhang Xuan, Assistant Engineer, Jilin Earthquake Station, Jilin Province Earthquake Bureau

Sveva·R·M PhD, University of Florence, Vesuvius Observatory, Naples, Italy

Li Mengmeng, Engineer of the Institute of Volcanology, China Earthquake Administration, Jilin Province Earthquake Bureau

Alessandro S. Senior Researcher, Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Rome, Italy

Francesco R. PhD, University of Naples Federico II, Vesuvius Observatory, Naples, Italy

Xu Yueren, Researcher at the Institute of Forecasting, China Earthquake Administration

Feng Jingqiao, Senior Engineer, Jilin Earthquake Disaster Risk Prevention and Control Center, Jilin Seismological Bureau

Gu Guohui, Engineer, Institute of Volcanology, China Earthquake Administration, Jilin Province Earthquake Bureau

Song Yujia, Assistant Engineer, Institute of Volcanology, China Earthquake Administration, Jilin Province Earthquake Bureau

Roberto M PhD, University of Naples Federico II, Vesuvius Observatory, Naples, Italy

Liu Shuang, Senior Engineer, Heilongjiang Seismological Station, Heilongjiang Province Seismological Bureau

Zhang Sen, Postdoctoral Fellow, College of Geological Engineering and Surveying, Chang'an University

Doctor of Jilin Seismological Station and Jilin Provincial Seismological Bureau

He Qi, Assistant Engineer, Information Center, Jilin Province Seismological Bureau

Yan Hengqi, Jilin Earthquake Station, Jilin Province Earthquake Bureau, Assistant Engineer

Liu Bingyang, Assistant Engineer, Information Center, Jilin Province Seismological Bureau

Zhang Yong, Researcher at the Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences

Gu Alei, Senior Engineer, Tianjin Geological Survey Center, China Geological Survey

Priyeshu S. Indian Institute of Geomagnetic Research (Mumbai, India)

Zhao Chuntao, Assistant Researcher, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Xu Zhikai, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Zhang Kun Postdoctoral fellow, School of Geographical Sciences, Northeast Normal University

Liu Yang, Assistant Researcher, School of Earth Sciences, Jilin University

Yu Lu PhD, Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Joint Institute

Fabio S. Senior Researcher, Vesuvius Observatory, Naples, Italy

Chu Xiaolei, PhD, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Southeast University

Xu Dan, Engineer, Jilin Province Seismological Bureau, Changbai Mountain Tianchi Volcano Monitoring Station, Jilin Province

Guan Sheng, Engineer, Institute of Volcanology, China Earthquake Administration, Jilin Province Earthquake Bureau

Alessandro S. Senior Researcher, Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Rome, Italy

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