Xinjiang's Ulungur Lake awakens as ice thaws

Warmer spring temperatures have begun melting the frozen surface of Ulungur Lake in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, creating a striking patchwork of ice and open water.

The thawing ice breaks into tens of thousands of pieces in an array of stunning shapes that resemble naan breads, one of the most beloved snacks in Xinjiang.

Drifting on the lake, the crystal-clear ice cubes together with the mirror of the sky create an awe-inspiring view and a dream-like landscape.

As one of China's 10 largest freshwater lakes, Ulungur Lake in Fuhai county, Altay Prefecture, encompasses more than 100,000 hectares of wetlands, constituting 86.97 percent of its total area. The lake is a vital rest stop for migratory birds traversing the region.

Xinjiang's Ulungur Lake awakens as ice thaws

The U.S. dollar closed almost flat in late trading on Monday.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, went up 0.01 percent to 98.035 at 3 p.m. (2000 GMT).

In late New York trading, the euro was down to 1.1767 dollars from 1.1777 dollars in the previous session, and the British pound added to 1.3507 dollars from 1.35 dollars in the previous session.

The U.S. dollar bought 156.03 Japanese yen, lower than 156.50 Japanese yen in the previous session. The U.S. dollar advanced to 0.7896 Swiss francs from 0.7891 Swiss francs, and it increased to 1.3684 Canadian dollars from 1.3672 Canadian dollars. The U.S. dollar rose to 9.1802 Swedish kronor from 9.16 Swedish kronor.

U.S. dollar closes flat