The lake is pictured on March 19. (Photo/Xinhua)
The Crescent Spring, regarded as a natural wonder in the Gobi Desert and located about 6 km south of Dunhuang, is a major tourist attraction in Gansu. The spring will also benefit from the increased water resources, according to Wu Jinkui, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources.
The formation of Har Lake means a rise in the level of underground water, which is direct proof of an enhanced ecological environment, Wu said.
Last year, more than 150 million cubic meters of water flowed underground from the Shule River and slowed down the pace of desertification, he added.
However, according to the researchers, Har Lake might disappear this year when there is no water supply.
Wu said the lake might not remain after May because when the temperature increases, the rate of evaporation rises.
"If the lake fails to gather enough water in spring, it is likely to disappear in summer," he added.
