Study on the organic compounds and stable isotope composition of a sediment section in Dabusu Lake revealed that the organic materials in the sediments came mainly from terrestrial plants brought into the lake by runoff. The δ13C of the organic materials had high values during warm-dry climatic stages and decreased in cold-wet stages. Analysis of data on carbonate content and 14 C age showed that the lake basin had experienced several wet-cold and warm-dry climatic cycles since 15000 a BP. Since 6700 a BP, the climate reached a relatively stable warm-dry stage, so that the lake water was gradually condensed and finally a saline lake was formed.