Khanka, Ramsar wetland at Russian-Chinese border, Primorsky Krai and Heilongjiang.
Khanka is a freshwater lake at the Russian-Chinese border in Primorsky Krai and Heilongjiang, covering over 4,000 square kilometers. The larger portion lies on the Russian side, with wide reed belts and shallow areas stretching along the shoreline.
During the Stone Age, Balhae tribes founded settlements on the shores as early inhabitants of the region. Later, Jurchen and Manchu ancestors used the area as fishing grounds and living space for their communities.
The name comes from Manchu and means water flowing from top to bottom. This phrase recalls the peoples who lived here across centuries and left their language in the place name.
The area is a Ramsar wetland under special regulations, so visitors should check access conditions beforehand. Most activities are limited to nature observation and birdwatching in designated zones.
In this region grows the Khanka pine, a tree species found nowhere else in the wild across the world. These trees shape the shoreline areas with their particular look and adaptation to the damp climate.
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