The Jade Lake

The Manla Water Reservoir Project is a large-scale infrastructure development in Shigatsu Prefecture, located on the Nianchu River, a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) River, which receives water from nearly 100 glaciers.

It is a multi-purpose project that provides irrigation for more than 40.000 hectares of farmland, generates over 20 MW of electricity, and offers flood control for a large area. It reflects the broader priorities of the Chinese Government for infrastructure development in remote western regions during the 1990s.

The Manla Dam is a clay-core rock-fill embankment that holds over 155 million cubic meters of water. Its construction marks a significant engineering achievement, especially given that it was built at high altitude and in a seismically active zone. Due to weather conditions, construction can only be carried out for a maximum of six months each year.

From above, Manla Lake resembles a massive jade dragon, winding through the rugged stone of the surrounding mountains, a movement of life and controlled strength.