A record decline in the water level at Huguangyan's volcanic lake in Guangdong has raised concern that the sleeping volcano is about to have a wake-up call.

At 2.3 square kilometers, Huguangyan is the world's largest volcanic lake. It is located in the southwest city of Zhanjiang.

It has recorded its lowest water level in 10 years and during the second half of 2006, the level dropped 5 meters.

The phenomenon, however, should not be a cause for worry, said Chen Quan, the director of Zhanjiang's seismology bureau. He ruled out the possibility of an eruption.

"Our observation has not shown any abnormal sign indicating that a re-eruption will occur at Huguangyan," said Chen.

Evolved from an extinct volcano centuries ago, the lake experienced a dramatic reduction in water during the second half of 2006 when the level fell 5 meters to reach 13 meters.

Luo Shuwen, senior engineer from Guangdong geological prospecting bureau, said Huguangyan's water level drop was due mainly to a decline in rainfall last year.

Luo said that between September and December alone, precipitation around Huguangyan was just 231.0 millimeters while the evaporation was as high as 445.3 millimeters.

"Water supply therefore lagged far behind water loss," Luo said.

He added that there were other reasons for the problem.

"Working entities around Huguangyan kept pumping water from the lake which also caused Huguangyan's water level to decline," Luo said.

Scientists with Zhanjiang meteorological bureau agreed that there was no need for people to worry.

Officials at the scenic spot have been trying to deal with the issue. They have submitted proposals to Zhanjiang's municipal government to preserve Asia's only Maar lake.

The first idea seeks to pump water from a well into the lake while another calls for a restriction on pumping water out of Huguangyan.

Experts who have been doing research on Huguangyan Maar lake for many years agreed that working entities that use water from Huguangyan should be restricted. They also say that pumping in water from other lakes was not feasible.

The lake's deposits can provide thousands of years of information about the earth and it is commonly referred to as "earth's yearbook."

(China Daily 04/03/2007 page5)