Discovery of new lakes controlled by strata and folds in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the largest lakes-distributing area without the disturbance of humans, is the ideal region for lake research. Using the right spatial resolution images, the authors have investigated the lakes in Hoh Xil and found the new lakes controlled by stratum and folds. Through the genesis analysis of Lian Lake, the authors proposed the concept of stratabound lakes. The stratabound lakes in Hoh Xil are mainly controlled by the red beds of Neogene and Paleogene,and the regularity of these lakes in shape, quantity, scale and distribution is relevant to the rhythmic sedimentation of soft and hard terranes. Most of stratabound lakes are small and mini type because of the width limit of outcrop stratum. Fold lakes are also controlled by the red beds of Neogene and Paleogene,and they are probably discovered for the first time in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The formative period of most stratabound lakes is later than Miocene. The dominant factor of the stratabound lakes development is the tumultuous changes of sedimentary environment which are relevant to tectonic movement.