Chinanews, Xining, Oct. 27 – The area of the Qinghai Lake has increased 43.8 sq km from last year. Experts estimate that Qinghai Lake will increase by a further10 sq km by the end of this year.The Qinghai Lake is the largest saltwater lake in China, its environmental condition having a bearing on the Qaidam Basin and Qilian Mountains. In addition, the lake provides crucial water sources to the region, which can cause the environmental deterioration.According to statistics, the area of Qinghai Lake gradually decreased between 1959 and 2004. The lake stopped decreasing in 2005. Currently it is an important tourism attraction.