LANZHOU, March 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Gahai Lake, an important water source of China's second longest river, the Yellow River, has expanded to its original size of 20 sq km, thanks to environment protection efforts.

    The lake is four sq km larger than it was in 2004, while the number of aquatic birds has increased to over 2,000, said Tian Ruichun, director of Gahai Lake Administration Center of the Gahai-Zecha Nature Reserve.

    Four small lakes of around one sq km each also appeared around Gahai Lake for the first time in the past 30 years.

    Due to soil erosion and vegetation deterioration, the lake was reduced to only 4.7 sq km in the 1990s, and it even dried out three times in the 1995-2002 period.

    The lake is the home of 2,000 birds, which include 30 black-necked cranes and scores of other rare birds on top of government protection list. Enditem