Ussuri River, Russia Photograph by WWF Russia/ Yuri Shibnev   Eastern Asia: Eastern China into Russia Flooded Grasslands and Savannas   13,100 square miles (33,800 square kilometers) -- about twicethe size of Hawaii Critical/Endangered

· Land of the Lotus
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Land of the Lotus

Many unique plant and animal species can be found in these meadows, but one of the most striking is the lotus flower. The flower’s beauty is matched only by that of the graceful cranes that also inhabit this ecoregion.

Special Features

Lake Khanka and the floodplain of the Ussuri River form an important natural ecosystem of meadows, cane thickets, shallow lakes, and bogs. These make perfect nesting, staging, and breeding areas for birds. The peak migration time is late March to October, when up to 12 million birds visit this ecoregion. Interestingly, the water level in the lake changes every 26 years. All rivers flowing into the lake are slow-flowing streams, with meandering riverbeds and marshy banks. Reaching its peak bloom in mid-August, the lotus flower has petals that gradually turn from bright pink to almost white as time goes on.

	White-naped cranes are known for their mating rituals. To strengthen their romantic bond, two cranes will circle each other and leap up to 6 feet (2 m) into the air, calling to each other and sometimes bowing before each other with spread wings. The birds might even toss grass, sticks, or feathers into the air as part of the show.

Wild Side

Of the 330 bird species that nest on or migrate through Khanka, many are endangered beauties, including the white oriental stork, white-naped and hooded cranes, and the nearly extinct Japanese crane. Other water-dependent creatures include the long-tailed clawed salamander, Chinese soft-shelled turtle, and several species of mollusks. In forested areas, Asiatic black bears, Far Eastern forest cats, and wild boars may sometimes be found.

Cause for Concern

Much of the landscape around this ecoregion has been converted to agriculture, with rice being the principal crop. The wetlands are adversely affected by pesticide runoff from the rice fields and by the digging of agricultural irrigation channels. After harvesting, this cultivated land becomes a major feeding area for water birds, exposing them further to chemicals. Other human threats include hay production, grazing, and the hunting of water birds and fur-bearing mammals.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.