Lake Zhenzhu

Lake Zhenzhu is the largest man-made toxic sludge lake in the world. Located outside Minxia City, it is fed by pipes from dozens of steel mills that dump toxic residue in it. Described as 'the pride of Minxia City' it is a major tourist attraction, its waters are however anathema to all life. Once a pristine lake home to a nesting ground for many migratory bird species, the declaration of a special program of industrial incentives for Minxia City led to a massive boom in extractive and transformative industries. Steel mills, mineral refineries and processing plants sprouted like mushrooms, encouraged by city officials and lax enviromental protections. By the early 2010's the lake had been completely fouled by sludge that it was reclassified as a toxic body of water and swimming was prohibited. Reported cases of people growing scales or extra vestigial limbs after coming into contact with the 'water' were initially hushed up. The Minxia tourism board decided to change the negative focus and crafted a new campaign to attract tourism by giving the lake a new spin, playing up the supposed grotesque mutations as scientific curiosities.

The Minxia Mutant Association; an organization composed of victims of the Lake, demand compensation by city authorities for their health problems.