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Qinghai Lake, China's largest inland salt water lake, as shown in this photo taken on August 11, 2008.

Qinghai Lake, China's largest inland saltwater lake, has kept its momentum of growth and gained an extra 46 square kilometers from last year. The news comes using remote satellite imagery from the Qinghai Meteorological Institute.

Xinhua News Agency reported that the total area of Qinghai Lake has reached 4317 square kilometers, following a steady increase over the last four years.

Qinghai Lake ranks as China's most beautiful lake in a competition organized by the China National Geography magazine.

Located at 3,200 meters above sea level, the lake has abundant fish and aquatic creatures which in turn attract large flocks of birds to perch on its islands.