Nui Coc Lake

Nui Coc Lake (Vietnamese: Hồ Núi Cốc) is a man-made lake, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of the city of Thai Nguyen in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, in Tam Dao National Park. It is a popular visitor attraction on account of the legend associated with the 89 islands within the lake. The lake is located in the scenic backdrop provided by the Coc Mountain. The lake was created on the Cong River, a tributary of the Red river. The lakeshore is divided into two areas, namely the northern bank and the southern bank. The northern bank has many upscale guest houses built on slopes of the hill amidst green trees, known as keo la cham. There is a water park and also an artificial dinosaur park on this bank. The lake has an area of 2,500 hectares (6,200 acres) with 23 metres (75 ft) deep waters with a storage capacity of 175 million cubic metres. A circular motor boat ride around the lake is an attraction. An ecotourism park was also developed in March 2007 with musical fountains. The Tourism Trade Union Joint Stock Co. has invested VND 15 billion in this eco-tourism park in an area of 1 hectare (2.5 acres). The main fountain raises to a height of over 40 metres (130 ft) with several subsidiary fountains, which presents a spectacular sight. The water fall of the fountain is accompanied by the music played on the khen, a musical instrument of the local ethnic people. The park has an animal reservation enclosure where animals such as alligators, osctriches and bears are reared and protected.

Other attractions in the park are: a 'Fairy Tale House Underworld and Water park' with a total area of about 6 hectares (15 acres); an artificial cave system, a large fish statue; in one of the large islands of 89 islets in the lake Vietnamese traditional culture is on display with 2061 cultural and historical items, which include the Bodhisattva of Compassion with thousands of hands and eyes. The flora found in the lake precincts are Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Melastoma candidum, Cratoxylon spp. and many more. The lake precinct (reservoir area) also is home for 40 species of birds and 15 species of mammals. Duck species seen in the island within the lake during the winter are: Dendocygna javanica, Anas crecca and A. acuta. A small breeding centre of Ardeola bacchus and Egretta spp has also been established on an island within the lake. Since a very large number of storks and many other birds, are seen in an island in the lake, it is also known as "Stork Island", and another island in the lake where large number of goats has been named as 'Goat Island'.