The Ke Go Lake National Nature Reserve boasts a rich flora and fauna with nearly 400 species of vertebrates belonging to 99 families, 47 species of mammals, 298 species of birds, and 100 species of reptiles and amphibians, including 18 mammal species listed in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world . Here, populations of 5 endemic bird species with narrow distribution ranges have been found: the Black-crested Pheasant, the Ha Tinh Pheasant, the Star-tailed Pheasant, the Long-billed Thrush, and the Grey-tailed Warbler, of which the Black-crested Pheasant and the Ha Tinh Pheasant are two globally endangered species. Regarding plants, there are 567 species of vascular plants belonging to 367 genera and 117 families, with the shrub layer commonly containing palm trees, primarily including species such as the Palmyra palm, the Rattan, the Wild palm, and the Arecaria. In the lower forest layer, there are ferns, bulrushes, and other plants belonging to the Acanthaceae family… Notably, the Ke Go Lake forest area boasts over 40 species of woody plants, including many valuable timber species such as: Táu, Gụ, Chò chỉ, Kim giao, Sến, Lát hoa…, and many species listed in the Vietnamese Red Book such as: Lim xanh, Sến mật, Gụ, Vàng tâm, Dổi, Trường, Trín, Bời lời vàng… The Ke Go forest is also home to beautiful and rare orchid species such as Quế hương, Tai tượng, Tai trâu, Đuôi chồn, Phượng vĩ, Nghinh xuân…
Ke Go Lake is a large-scale irrigation project located within the Ke Go National Nature Reserve. Construction began on March 26, 1976, and it was put into operation on March 26, 1979. The lake is designed with a main dam made of homogeneous earth, 37.4m high and 970m long, and three auxiliary dams along with a spillway. The lake is nearly 29km long with a widest section of almost 3km, and has a useful capacity of 345 million cubic meters of water, reaching a depth of approximately 20m. From the lake, water flows through the main canal to branch canals, irrigating over 20,000 hectares of rice paddies and other crops in Thach Ha and Cam Xuyen districts, Ha Tinh city, and the northern part of Ky Anh district. This transforms barren, rocky, and infertile land into lush green fields, while also providing drinking water for thousands of households in Ha Tinh province.
From an irrigation project aimed at regulating water resources for agricultural production, Ke Go Lake has become a source of abundant aquatic resources, creating a fascinating natural landscape and providing a foundation for tourism and service development projects, especially ecotourism and resort tourism.
After the Rào Cái River was dammed, the rising water transformed the low hills into small islands. On these islands, lush vegetation creates stunning highlights amidst the lake's surface, resembling a watercolor painting, especially in the early mornings and at sunset. During the rainy season, the water rises, creating a vast expanse of deep blue; in the dry season, the water level drops, revealing rocky slopes shimmering with golden light in the early morning sun. Occasionally, small fishing boats belonging to local people appear on the lake's surface, and flocks of birds flap their wings and fly towards the distant mountains. The endless beauty of Kẻ Gỗ Lake has attracted many tourists from within and outside the province to visit, relax, camp, and take souvenir photos. Here, visitors can freely gaze out at the verdant landscape, enjoy the cool breeze blowing from the lake, and climb the mountains to pick sim fruit, either to eat or to make wine as a gift. Visitors can also take boat trips, navigating through the islands and venturing dozens of kilometers upstream to admire the scenery, learn about the flora and fauna of the reservoir, see orchids in bloom, swim and experience traditional fishing in the streams and creeks, camp on the islands or along the edges of the forests, and listen to the song "The People Building Ke Go Lake" by composer Nguyen Van Ty amidst the majestic mountains and waters...
In the Ke Go Lake Nature Reserve, visitors can also take a boat trip to visit and pay respects at the shrine dedicated to the heroic martyrs of Li Bi Airport – a makeshift airfield during the resistance war against the US, and visit the temple of the late General Secretary Le Duan on Le Duan Island.
Recognizing the tourism and service development potential of the Ke Go Lake Nature Reserve, Ha Tinh province has developed a planning project for the construction of the Ke Go Lake tourist area (Cam Xuyen district) until 2020, with a vision to 2030. The Ha Tinh tourism sector has been promoting investment projects in infrastructure and service systems to develop the area into a comprehensive eco-tourism destination with various recreational activities such as boat racing, surfing, mountain climbing, fishing, as well as sports facilities for tennis, badminton, volleyball, and the construction of a zoo, bird sanctuary, and ornamental plant garden.
According to the plan, the project will include the construction of central service areas providing services, goods, entertainment, and accommodation for tourists; resort areas along the northern shores of Ke Go Lake, functioning as areas for developing high-end resort-style tourism; a weekend tourism area located west of Ke Go Lake, developing a system of accommodation, services, and entertainment for weekend tourists; a special entertainment area located east of Ke Go Lake with unique entertainment options combined with resort activities; a spiritual and ecological tourism area located in the area of the island where former General Secretary Le Duẩn lived and the surrounding area, linked to spiritual and ecological tourism; a themed park located east of Ke Go Lake, adjacent to the spiritual tourism area; and a landscaped green area developed on the basis of natural forests on both banks of Ke Go Lake, serving ecotourism, sightseeing, camping, etc.
In the near future, Ke Go Lake Tourist Area will be an attractive destination for tourists from near and far, thereby making a positive contribution to the development of tourism in particular and the socio-economic development of the province in general.
Instructions:
* From Ha Tinh city, follow National Highway 1A south for 2km, turn right following the signs and continue for 17km to reach Ke Go Lake.
Contact: 0239 3608 016
* Nearby tourist attractions: From Ke Go Lake, tourists can reach Cam Xuyen town (15km), follow National Highway 1A for 4km south, then turn right for 3km following the signs to reach the historical site of former General Secretary Ha Huy Tap, or follow Provincial Road 4 for about 13km to reach Thien Cam beach.
Article author: Tran Duc Cuong. Photo: Archival material.
Source: https://dulichhatinh.com.vn/tai-nguyen-du-lich/di-tich-danh-thang/ho-ke-go-16/
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