National Park

Kinmen National Park Headquarters

The wetland takes up the entire water body of Cih Lake with some surrounding fish farms, forests and water course. Initially, Cih Lake was the estuary of Xuanli Lake. In 1969, Cih Levee was built, thus creating the saline lake.

The wetland was formed around the bay after Cih Levee was built. The ocean on the west is engulfed by the higher elevation on the north, east and south. However, the altitude is lower than 5 m. There are also few fish farms and manmade water course on the fringe of the wetland. Surrounding the water body are mostly ancient alluvial deposits, peat, carbonaceous shale and sand dune with modern deposits. A minor southwestern area consists of laterite.

Kinmen is located on the path of the migratory birds in east Asia. The shorebirds need to stop for rest and food during the migration. Therefore, Cih Lake, Pubian and Lingshui Lake become the best areas where the migratory shorebirds may rest. Survey shows that over 60% of the 115 bird species are transient and migratory birds, making this place a well-known bird-watching spot. The beefwood forest north of Cih Lake is the largest night resting place for great cormorants in Kinmen with over 8,000 birds counted.
Cih Lake is surrounded by fish farms with water courses intertwining in between. Otters often forage for food between Xuanli Lake and Cih Lake. They are also found to mate and nest in the surrounding grass areas.

Eurasian Otter and Black-faced Spoonbill.

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The wetland's current status and potential threats:

A rare species of Horseshoe Crab, needing protection, can be found throughout the wetland, including the Cih Lake levee area, Shueitou mudflats, Hofeng Harbor, Wujian Estuary, Guningtou, Longkou, and Gijitou regions. Road construction along the lake is severely harmful to the wetland ecosystem.

Taiwan's Wetlands of Importance Evaluation Group.