If you’ve seen photos of Jiuzhaigou’s lake water, your first reaction would be, “This color is definitely photoshopped, right?” But after 3 million tourists have verified it with their own eyes, they have to admit – these lakes, which are more dreamy than Tiffany blue, are actually nature’s original filters! Today we will use the familiar scientific principles of Americans, to reveal the secret of this “blue magic”.
I, A visual shock: more magical than the Caribbean Sea water color!
Jiuzhaigou’s lake water is so blue that it makes people doubt their eyes — from peacock blue to turquoise green to amethyst-like gradient color, more transparent than Hawaii’s Waimea Bay, and more pure than Iceland’s Blue Lagoon hot springs.
The most famous Sea of Five Flowers is a typical case: standing on the observation deck and looking down, the lake will show five colors at the same time. Experts from the U.S. Geological Survey have used color cards to compare and found that the water color saturation here is 300% higher than that of ordinary lakes!
II, The core secret: the “triple magic show” of light.
1. Rayleigh Scattering
The principle is similar to why the sky is blue — short-wave blue light from sunlight is more easily scattered by water molecules. But the altitude of Jiuzhaigou (2000-3100 meters) doubles this effect:
- The air is thinner and the sunlight penetrates better
- The lake has a transparency of 12 meters (6 times that of a normal lake).
- It’s like filling the entire Grand Canyon of Colorado with pure water.
2. Reflections of calcareous deposits
The bottom of the lake is covered with a layer of calcareous deposits (mainly composed of calcium carbonate) formed over thousands of years, which is equivalent to a layer of natural reflectors:
- When the sunlight is shining, the white calcium reflect the blue light twice.
- Gradient effect is formed by different thicknesses (0.5 meters of shallow water is emerald green, 10 meters of deep water becomes indigo).
- Similar to the principle of “Jelly Sea” in the white sandy coast of Maldives.
3. Mineral color palette
Dissolved minerals in the water act as natural coloring agents:
- Copper ions: creates Tiffany blue (e.g. colorful pools)
- Magnesium sulfate: produces turquoise color (e.g. Changhai)
- Algae communities: secrete carotenoids in the fall, overlaying amber-gold
III. Dynamic magic: look at different blue colors at different times
🌅 Early morning, 7-9am.
- Low-angle sunlight activates the reflection of calcium, the lake appears metallic cobalt blue.
- Suggested shooting spot: Mirror Sea (you can capture the reflection of snowy mountains + underwater tree trunks)
☀️ 12-14pm
- When the ultraviolet ray is the strongest, Rayleigh scattering dominates, turning it into a transparent cornflower blue.
- Ideal for snorkeling observations (designated areas only): you can see the underwater calcareous forest at 20 meters deep
🌇 sunset 17-19pm
- Red light penetrates the clouds and mixes with blue light to form a violet color
- Best Viewing Spot: Panda Sea north side trestle
IV. Human Contribution: 30 Years of Ecological Defense
Jiuzhaigou’s blue color is not born eternal; it once nearly disappeared due to overdevelopment:
- Crisis in the 1980s: logging around the area led to soil erosion, and the transparency of the Changhai Sea dropped from 30 meters to 8 meters.
- Key turning point: the world’s most stringent protection measures were implemented after the successful bid for the heritage in 1992:
- Demolition of all lakeshore buildings
- Establishment of an independent sewage treatment system
- Restricted daily flow of 41,000 people
3.2017 Earthquake Miracle: After the 7.0-magnitude earthquake, the Norilang Waterfall was once cut off, but the self-repairing function of the calcareous layer allowed it to restore its original appearance within 3 months.
Environmental Black Technology:
- Underwater robots test the mineral content every month
- Drones are used to sow the calcareous restoration strains.
- Visitors’ walkways are elevated to avoid stepping on the lake shore.
V. Photo Guide: How to shoot “surreal blue”
- Equipment selection
- Polarized glasses (CPL) are necessary: they can filter reflections on the surface of the water and reveal the underwater layer of calcium.
- Suggested focal length: 24-70mm (wide-angle panorama) + 70-200mm (to capture the color gradation)
2.Parameter Settings
- Aperture: f/8-f/11 (to ensure depth of field)
- White balance: manual setting 5000K (to enhance blue tones)
- Best ISO: 100-400 (Plateau is well lit)
3.Networked camera positions
- South section of Panko Sea: use telephoto to compress space and shoot color layering
- Downstream of Pearl Beach Falls: slow shutter photography of flowing water silk texture
- East side of Juzheng Qunhai: early morning backlighting to shoot the blue light in the mist
VI. Frequently Asked Questions by U.S. Travelers
Q: Can I bring lake water samples back to my home country for testing?
A: It is strictly prohibited! You will be fined $2,000 for taking the water, and the calcareous layer will oxidize and change color if it comes into contact with the air.
Q: Will the lake water become cloudy during the rainy season (June-August)?
A: Not at all! Jiuzhaigou adopts a diversion system, whereby sediment is channeled directly into a dedicated river.
Q: Will the blue color be affected by ice on the lake in winter?
A: When the ice is over 40cm thick, it will take on a richer sapphire color (best in January-February)
VII. Ultimate Experience: Ways to “Bring Home” the Jiuzhai Blue Color
- Officially licensed photos: NASA satellite maps of Jiuzhaigou’s water system are available for sale at the Visitor Center ($35/picture). 2.
- Spectral analysis souvenirs: customized necklaces with lake water spectra (from $60)
- AR postcard: cell phone scanning shows the dynamic lake color changing process ($5/postcard)
The blue color of Jiuzhaigou is not only a visual wonder, but also a barometer of the earth’s ecological health. As Ranger Renqing says, “When we protect this water, it will return to mankind with the purest blue color.” Now that you know the secret – the next time you see those “unreal” photos of the lake, you can confidently tell your friends, “It’s really unfiltered, because nature itself is the most brilliant colorist! ”
(insider tip: Secretly, if you stand on the west side of the Rhino Sea at 11am, you can see the sunlight painting rainbow-colored spots on the water surface – this is a “hidden egg” created by the calcareous layer and the minerals together!)
