天(tian)池古稱(cheng)祁連那,唐代曾在此設立天(tian)池牧監,為朝廷飼牧軍馬,故又稱(cheng)馬營(ying)海。
寧武天池位于寧武縣城西南20公里海(hai)(hai)拔1954m的(de)管涔山(shan)麓(lu)地馬(ma)營村北,是一(yi)處(chu)高山(shan)群(qun)湖(hu)(hu),桑干河(he)和(he)汾河(he)分(fen)水(shui)嶺(ling)上的(de)東莊(zhuang)村附近(jin)。這里有馬(ma)營海(hai)(hai)、元池、琵(pi)琶海(hai)(hai)、鴨子海(hai)(hai)、小海(hai)(hai)子、干海(hai)(hai)、嶺(ling)干海(hai)(hai)、雙海(hai)(hai)、老師(shi)傅海(hai)(hai)等(deng)大小天然湖(hu)(hu)泊15個,長1.6km,寬(kuan)1km,總面積約4平(ping)方公里,處(chu)于海(hai)(hai)拔1771-1849m之間,蓄水(shui)量800萬立方米,水(shui)深20余米。池里生存(cun)著草魚(yu)、鯉魚(yu)、鯽(ji)魚(yu)、鰱魚(yu)等(deng)水(shui)生動物。
天地(di)湖群(qun),高(gao)(gao)山環繞,樹木(mu)掩(yan)映,湖水清澈,像一塊“晶瑩碧綠的(de)寶(bao)石(shi)鑲嵌(qian)于高(gao)(gao)山之(zhi)巔”。
元海在天池(chi)北邊五公(gong)里的山(shan)顛上,四周(zhou)是(shi)(shi)石(shi)壁天險(xian),形(xing)狀像個玉盤,被凌(ling)空托起,頗具(ju)猛將(jiang)風(feng)格,俗稱“公(gong)海”。池(chi)西的一座石(shi)峰,飛(fei)掛在峭壁上,落差有(you)500米。元海是(shi)(shi)恢河的發源地,東和南(nan)兩面是(shi)(shi)廣闊無(wu)垠的高山(shan)牧(mu)場。
琵(pi)琶(pa)海離天池不(bu)到一(yi)公里(li),比天池高出(chu)十多米,形(xing)狀像個(ge)琵(pi)琶(pa),海水(shui)清澈,天光云影,遠(yuan)山近嶺倒映在水(shui)中。據(ju)說(shuo)有(you)一(yi)種青色的(de)靈鳥,每(mei)當落葉(xie)敗枝飄(piao)入水(shui)中,便飛去噙(qin)出(chu),以保碧水(shui)永遠(yuan)清澈。
離天池(chi)東岸(an)三公(gong)里(li)處(chu),是一片起伏的金色(se)沙洲。據說,它下邊埋(mai)藏(zang)著一個叫南莊(zhuang)子的村(cun)莊(zhuang)。遠遠望(wang)去,有20多米高,和綠色(se)的牧(mu)場(chang)形(xing)成鮮明的對比。
元海和(he)琵琶海附近(jin)的(de)(de)山坡上,常能(neng)(neng)見(jian)(jian)到圓(yuan)塔(ta)型石(shi)堆,一(yi)層層的(de)(de)薄石(shi)片是(shi)由麻(ma)頁(ye)巖風化(hua)而成的(de)(de)。在天(tian)池和(he)元海之間(jian)還能(neng)(neng)見(jian)(jian)距(ju)今300萬年前的(de)(de)冰臼。
與(yu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)地(di)(di)為伴的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)元池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(亦稱公海),面積0.36平(ping)方(fang)公里,水(shui)深15m左(zuo)右,蓄(xu)水(shui)540萬(wan)立方(fang)米(mi)。據記載,天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)水(shui)“陰霖不(bu)溢,陽旱不(bu)涸(he),澄亭如(ru)鑒”。傳說,每遇樹葉雜草飄落湖(hu)面,便(bian)有靈(ling)(ling)鳥飛臨噙去,故湖(hu)水(shui)清澈可鑒。天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)風(feng)光(guang)秀(xiu)麗(li),池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)中盛產鯉(li)魚(yu)。炎夏鯉(li)魚(yu)騰躍水(shui)面,泛起層(ceng)層(ceng)漣漪,波光(guang)粼(lin)粼(lin),被稱為“天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)錦鱗”一(yi)景(jing)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)以其神奇迷人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)風(feng)光(guang),吸引著(zhu)歷代帝(di)王公卿、騷(sao)人(ren)(ren)墨(mo)客。隋大業四年(nian)(608),隋煬帝(di)楊廣北(bei)方(fang)巡游(you)(you)(you)、狩獵(lie),于天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)邊修(xiu)建了規模宏偉華麗(li)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)汾陽官。大業十(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(615),隋煬帝(di)攜文(wen)武(wu)臣僚(liao)宮娥彩女約十(shi)(shi)萬(wan)余人(ren)(ren),浩浩蕩蕩來天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)避暑游(you)(you)(you)獵(lie),極享天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)勝(sheng)(sheng)景(jing)。內史侍郎薛道衡在(zai)宴會上(shang)即興賦(fu)詩(shi)《隨駕天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)應詔》一(yi)首:“上(shang)圣(sheng)家(jia)寰宇,威略振邊陲。人(ren)(ren)維(wei)窮眺覽,千里曳(ye)旌旗。駕黿臨碧(bi)海,控驥踐瑤池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)。曲浦(pu)騰煙霧,深浪駭驚螭。”可惜這(zhe)(zhe)座(zuo)行(xing)宮于隋大業十(shi)(shi)三年(nian)(617)被劉武(wu)周攻毀。這(zhe)(zhe)碧(bi)波蕩漾的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)美(mei)妙之(zhi)地(di)(di),也(ye)曾(ceng)是(shi)歷代文(wen)人(ren)(ren)游(you)(you)(you)覽的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)(di)方(fang)。據傳歐陽修(xiu)、范(fan)仲淹等(deng)皆來此游(you)(you)(you)樂覽勝(sheng)(sheng),盛贊天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)美(mei)景(jing)。元代詩(shi)人(ren)(ren)元好問則留下這(zhe)(zhe)樣的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)絕句:“天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)地(di)(di)一(yi)雨洗氛埃(ai),令晉(jin)堂(tang)堂(tang)四望開。不(bu)上(shang)朝允峰(feng)北(bei)頂,真成不(bu)到此山來。“天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)古建筑雖已毀沒,然天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)秀(xiu)麗(li)風(feng)景(jing)卻與(yu)日(ri)月共存(cun)。當(dang)地(di)(di)百(bai)姓珍(zhen)惜這(zhe)(zhe)塊神圣(sheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)土地(di)(di),每年(nian)農歷六月十(shi)(shi)五日(ri)在(zai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)之(zhi)濱(bin)舉行(xing)傳統的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)古廟會。近些年(nian)來,寧武(wu)縣社會各界集(ji)資在(zai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)之(zhi)濱(bin)修(xiu)復了盛唐(tang)時(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)海瀛寺,在(zai)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)增設了游(you)(you)(you)艇、游(you)(you)(you)船、垂釣、風(feng)景(jing)攝影等(deng)多種游(you)(you)(you)樂設施,新植了松柏林(lin)帶(dai),修(xiu)建了直(zhi)達池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)濱(bin)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)公路,開展了以天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)地(di)(di)勝(sheng)(sheng)景(jing)為中心(xin),輻射管(guan)涔山名(ming)勝(sheng)(sheng)景(jing)區蘆芽山、汾源靈(ling)(ling)沼(zhao)、小(xiao)懸空寺、萬(wan)佛洞、萬(wan)年(nian)冰窖、支鍋奇石、寧武(wu)關樓、古長(chang)城等(deng)旅(lv)游(you)(you)(you)活(huo)動項目,游(you)(you)(you)覽天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)(chi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)盛況正日(ri)勝(sheng)(sheng)一(yi)日(ri)。
天(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)形成(cheng)于新生代(dai)第四紀冰川(chuan)期(qi),距今有300萬年的歷史(shi)了。它是我國三大高(gao)山(shan)天(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)之一,世所罕(han)見的高(gao)山(shan)湖泊湖。古稱祁(qi)(qi)連池(chi)(chi)(chi)或祁(qi)(qi)連泊。位(wei)于寧武縣西南20公(gong)里,海拔1954米的公(gong)水嶺東(dong)頂部。天(tian)池(chi)(chi)(chi)也(ye)叫“母海”。
天(tian)池(chi)(chi)古(gu)稱(cheng)祈蓮池(chi)(chi)、祈蓮泊(bo),唐貞(zhen)元(yuan)15年,在天(tian)池(chi)(chi)周圍設(she)皇家牧(mu)監,每年牧(mu)戰馬70萬匹,故俗稱(cheng)馬營海(hai)或母海(hai),面(mian)積約l平(ping)方公里(li),水深10米,儲水量(liang)800萬立方米。天(tian)池(chi)(chi)周圍的高山湖泊(bo)分別為(wei)元(yuan)池(chi)(chi)、琵琶(pa)海(hai)、鴨(ya)子(zi)海(hai)、里(li)海(hai)、外(wai)海(hai)、小海(hai)、干海(hai),天(tian)池(chi)(chi)就被眾(zhong)多湖泊(bo)所圍繞(rao),猶如鶴立雞群一般。天(tian)池(chi)(chi)池(chi)(chi)水奇特之處(chu)在于久旱不竭,長盈不涸,明澈清(qing)涼,在此可以充分領略湖光山色的豪情壯景。
天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池較早成為(wei)游(you)覽(lan)勝(sheng)地(di)(di),可追溯到戰國時(shi)期(qi),距今(jin)大約2300多年。天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池正式辟為(wei)皇家游(you)覽(lan)觀(guan)光勝(sheng)地(di)(di)是在北魏時(shi)期(qi)。據說,北魏的(de)(de)孝文帝曾(ceng)用(yong)金珠穿了(le)七條魚(yu)放入(ru)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池,看是否與桑(sang)干(gan)河潛通(tong)。他又(you)曾(ceng)用(yong)箭射中池中的(de)(de)飛鯨,這兩者后(hou)來都在百(bai)里之(zhi)外的(de)(de)桑(sang)干(gan)河獲得。隋唐(tang)時(shi)期(qi),天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池游(you)覽(lan)觀(guan)光到了(le)鼎勝(sheng)階段。隋煬(yang)帝曾(ceng)環天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池建(jian)筑了(le)規(gui)模盛大的(de)(de)汾陽宮(gong)。唐(tang)貞元15年,在天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池周圍設皇家牧監(jian),每年牧戰馬(ma)70萬匹(pi),故(gu)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)池又(you)有馬(ma)營海之(zhi)稱(cheng)。
兩千(qian)多年過(guo)去了,天池(chi)仍以她那“陽旱不涸(he)、陰霖不溢(yi)、澄清如(ru)鏡(jing)”的(de)(de)秀(xiu)麗光(guang)(guang)光(guang)(guang)迎(ying)接(jie)著來自四面八方的(de)(de)游客。
隨著旅游(you)業的不(bu)斷發展,天池這顆被(bei)古人列為寧武古八(ba)景之首,題名為“天池錦鱗”或(huo)“天池霞映”的寶珠,現已(yi)開辟為省(sheng)級旅游(you)風景名勝區。
天(tian)池(chi)較早(zao)的(de)記載(zai)見于《山海(hai)經(jing)(jing)(jing)》、《水經(jing)(jing)(jing)注》中。之(zhi)后在(zai)《資治通鑒》、《隋(sui)書》、《唐書》、《三(san)關(guan)志(zhi)》、《晉(jin)問》等(deng)典籍中均有記載(zai)。早(zao)在(zai)《山海(hai)經(jing)(jing)(jing)》中記載(zai)的(de)兩處天(tian)池(chi),其中之(zhi)一就是寧(ning)武天(tian)池(chi),這里有我國保存(cun)完整的(de)第四紀冰(bing)川地(di)貌,從(cong)古至今就是人們避(bi)暑(shu)觀光(guang)狩(shou)獵的(de)勝(sheng)地(di)。盛夏沐浴天(tian)池(chi)之(zhi)濱的(de)習(xi)習(xi)清風,觀賞汾源勝(sheng)地(di)的(de)美麗美景,令人心曠(kuang)神怡。天(tian)池(chi)在(zai)元池(chi)、琵琶海(hai)、鴨子海(hai)、老師傅(fu)海(hai)、里干海(hai)、外干海(hai)、小海(hai)等(deng)十(shi)多處高山湖泊映襯(chen)下如(ru)群(qun)星拱(gong)月,別具一番風姿(zi)。
蘆芽(ya)山主要景點有八個,分為(wei)兩條線路:
蘆芽山一線是(shi)蘆芽山(馬侖草原(yuan))門票20元(yuan)、情人谷門票10元(yuan)、汾河源頭20元(yuan)共(gong)計(ji)50元(yuan)。
萬(wan)年(nian)冰(bing)洞一線(xian)是萬(wan)年(nian)冰(bing)洞50元、懸崖棧道15元、懸棺與(yu)懸空寺20元,共(gong)計85元。
天(tian)池10元位(wei)于寧(ning)武到東寨鎮途中。
也可第一(yi)(yi)天(tian)游覽“蘆(lu)芽山”一(yi)(yi)線景點,第二天(tian)游覽“萬年冰(bing)洞(dong)”一(yi)(yi)線景點,最后參觀(guan)“天(tian)池”。以上安(an)排(pai)(pai)時間較為緊張(zhang),請注意合理安(an)排(pai)(pai)時間,自助旅(lv)行的游客(ke)不妨延長半(ban)天(tian)或一(yi)(yi)天(tian)。
東(dong)寨鎮距太原三個小時車程,先走(zou)太原高速公路到(dao)達原平市(shi),再從(cong)原平上大運(yun)二(er)級公路到(dao)達寧武縣城(cheng),最后(hou)由寧武縣到(dao)達東(dong)寨鎮。
火(huo)(huo)車(che):在(zai)太(tai)原火(huo)(huo)車(che)站或大同(tong)火(huo)(huo)車(che)站乘坐到寧武的火(huo)(huo)車(che),延北同(tong)蒲(pu)線分別到達寧武縣(xian)城(cheng)。
汽車:太原汽車客運(yun)東站乘坐開往寧武縣的客車。
到達寧(ning)武縣城后(hou)在(zai)寧(ning)武汽(qi)車(che)(che)站乘坐寧(ning)武-東(dong)寨(zhai)(zhai)的班(ban)車(che)(che),到達東(dong)寨(zhai)(zhai)鎮(zhen)后(hou),可找當地的私車(che)(che)。
自駕游:從太原(yuan)出發,沿二廣高速到達(da)(da)原(yuan)平收費站下高速,再沿原(yuan)平平安大街由(you)東向西行,駛(shi)上崞五(wu)線到達(da)(da)寧武境內,再駛(shi)入寧白線向南行駛(shi)約半(ban)小時即抵達(da)(da)。