Sayram in Kazak means "blessing". The lake is also known as Santaizehai. It is located at the south west of Bole County of the Bortala Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, and is the biggest alpine lake in Xinjiang at 2073 meters elevation. It is 20 kilometer long east to west, and 30 meters wide north to south,,covering an area of over 450 square kilometers It reaches a depth of over 90 meters,surrounded by the Tarqings mountain region. With its blue waters reflecting snow-covered peaks, and herds of cattle grazing on its shores, it is a picture of pastoral tran quility. Each year, on the 15th of July, the ethnic Mongolians hold their annual fair, the Nadam, which includes recreational activities and sports such as wrestling and horse-racing,among others. At the same time there is also a commodity fair. Beginning in the 1970s,cultivation of different kinds of fish has achieved favorable results. On the lake are water fowl like the red duck, and migrating birds such as the swan,the striped-head goose and the white-brow duck come to grace the lake with their presence at regular times each year.