URUMQI, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's largest inland freshwater lake Bosten, located in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has begun to pour water of about 200 mln cubic meters to irrigate the local populus euphratica forests.

The forests are part of an important barrier that separates two major deserts.

The lake has started to provide water to the local Kongque River since 2016, irrigating the local vegetation and increasing underground water levels.

Thanks to the water supplies, the Kongque River has stretched to over 700 km from previous 110 km.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service