Abstract Highland lakes have complex terrain features. During engineering survey and research trials, due to natural conditions, capital and human resource constraints, when a fixedpoint sampling is needed on the lake surface,it is difficult with the conventional measurement methods to achieve accurate depth and the horizontal distance. Taking the mapping process of 8 m isobath near Yangzonghai lake gushing point as an example, a new simple method is suitable to the lake isobath and surface horizontal distance measurement is put forward and analyzed. The new method has great reference value for nonmapping professionals to map lake isobath lines and lake surface horizontal distance.Highland lakes have complex terrain features. During engineering survey and research trials, due to natural conditions, capital and human resource constraints, when a fixedpoint sampling is needed on the lake surface,it is difficult with the conventional measurement methods to achieve accurate depth and the horizontal distance. Taking the mapping process of 8 m isobath near Yangzonghai lake gushing point as an example, a new simple method is suitable to the lake isobath and surface horizontal distance measurement is put forward and analyzed. The new method has great reference value for nonmapping professionals to map lake isobath lines and lake surface horizontal distance.
