Núi Cốc Lake 3.42

Núi Cốc Lake is a man-made lake, approximately 25km west of the city of Thái Nguyên in Thái Nguyên Province, Vietnam, in Tam Đảo National Park. It is a popular visitor attraction on account of the legend associated with the 89 islands within the lake.GeographyThe lake is located in the scenic backdrop provided by the Coc Mountain . The lake was created on the Công 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.Lake and its precinctsThe lake has an area of 2500ha with 23m 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 1ha. The main fountain raises to a height of over 40m 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, ostriches and bears are reared and protected.