On August 6th, residents and tourists on boats witnessed a strange phenomenon on Dianchi Lake in Kunming, Yunnan Province (China).
This was a spectacle of fish jumping out of the water in unison. The astonishing scene was captured by witnesses and shared on social media, attracting significant attention.
A multitude of fish continuously leaped from the water, creating a sight reminiscent of carp leaping over the Dragon Gate to transform into dragons. This spectacle drew admiration from both locals and visitors, resembling a captivating performance.
Staff working at Dianchi Lake mentioned that it was the first time they had witnessed such a strange occurrence.
On the morning of August 7th, reporters in China arrived at the area where the fish were jumping the most, which was the western dock of Dianchi Lake, and the phenomenon continued. Some fish even jumped onto the decks of boats moored nearby. While interviewing and filming, a large fish suddenly leaped onto the shore.
Fish jumping out of the water at Dianchi Lake surprised many residents and tourists. (Image taken from video)
Local residents reported that the fish had been jumping out of the lake since August 6th, and they jumped even more when boats moved through the area. This strange sight closely resembled the image of carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, with some even jumping onto nearby boats.
Ms. Tran Tinh, manager of a company specializing in cruise transport at Dianchi Lake, stated: “This sight of fish jumping out of the lake is quite rare. The cause of this phenomenon may be due to recent heavy rains and a lack of oxygen in the water, prompting the fish to jump.”
However, this is just Ms. Tran’s speculation. Additionally, some believe that the ten-year ban on fishing in the lake has led to a rapid increase in the fish population.
“After noticing many fish jumping out of the water, we have assigned all staff to monitor the situation. If any fish jump onto boats or other places, staff will return them to the lake,” Ms. Tran added.
Dianchi Lake is a famous destination in Kunming, Yunnan Province (China). (Photo: UDN).
Immediately after receiving information about this unusual phenomenon, experts arrived at Dianchi Lake to investigate the cause. They noted that the fish jumping out of the lake were primarily white carp.
White carp are freshwater fish known for their sensitivity to changes in water currents and their tendency to school. According to experts, heavy rainfall in Yunnan in recent days has increased the inflow of water into the lake, potentially stimulating the white carp to jump. Furthermore, the frequent movement of cruise boats in and out of the Dianchi Lake area disrupts the water flow, affecting fish behavior.
However, according to the authorities in Kunming, while they have not received formal reports on the incident, the cause of the fish jumping could be due to a lack of oxygen in the water or weather conditions.
Jumping fish phenomena have occurred multiple times
Fish jumping across the surface of Xuanwu Lake (Nanjing, Jiangsu Province) occurred on June 23, 2020. (Photo: N News).
This is not the first time such a strange phenomenon has occurred in China. Previously, on June 23, 2020, many residents were astonished to witness hundreds of fish unexpectedly jumping from the surface of Xuanwu Lake in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.
Most recently, on June 24, 2023, a video captured dozens of fish leaping out of a pond in a scenic area in Chengdu, Sichuan Province (China). This strange scene lasted about ten minutes.
After the event, experts were invited to examine the water quality in the pond and found nothing unusual. Following the occurrence, experts were called in to conduct water testing in the pond; however, they did not discover anything abnormal.
A researcher from the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, stated that hot weather could cause stress responses in white carp. This species is easily startled and highly sensitive. As soon as they sense changes in weather or environmental factors, the most sensitive fish will leap out of the water, prompting other fish in the pond to follow suit, creating a phenomenon similar to a herd effect.
