Hongze Lake Levee, Flood control levee at Hongze Lake in Huai'an, China.
The Hongze Lake Levee protects the area surrounding one of China's largest freshwater bodies and regulates water flow between the Huai River and Yangtze systems. The structure stretches across a significant perimeter and shows different construction phases with stone reinforcements and modern upgrades.
The levee was constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties and enlarged multiple times to prevent regular flooding. In the 20th century, major reinforcement projects modernized the structure to meet contemporary water management needs.
The levee represents centuries of Chinese water management knowledge built into its structure and design. Today it remains a symbol of how communities have learned to coexist with one of China's major freshwater bodies.
The best way to explore the levee is on foot or by bicycle along the paths on top of the structure. The ideal time to visit is during drier months when water levels are lower and more of the construction is visible.
Stone statues emerged along the shoreline after environmental changes and were discovered in the 1960s, triggering preservation efforts. These finds provide clues about older settlements that once lay beneath the water.
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