Abstract: Due to the lack of geospatial information in historical periods, it has brought difficulties to the research on the long-term evolution of embankments in the Dongting Lake area. This paper retrieves the spatio-temporal evolution of embankments over the past century through historical topographic maps and remote sensing images of 9 periods since 1933, and analyzes the evolution characteristics and driving reasons. In the 1930s, embankments were mainly distributed on both sides of the Song Zi River, Ou Chi River and Hu Du River basin of southern flow of the Jingjiang River and the estuarine deltas of the "Four Rivers" (Xiang Jiang River, Zi Shui River, Yuan Jiang River, and Li Shui River). After the founding of New China, combined with the construction of water conservancy projects, lake reclamation was carried out, and the area increased from 7387.45 km² in 1933 to 9674.99 km² in 2024, with an increase of 2287.54 km².Over the past century, lake reclamation has gone through four stages: the period of local reclamation from 1933 to 1949, the period of large-scale reclamation from 1950 to 1958, the period of extreme reclamation from 1959 to 1980, and the period of prohibition of reclamation and removal of embankments after 1981, with an average annual increase of 13.21 km², 122.98 km², 44.88 km² and -0.71 km² respectively. The first two stages were measures of "asking for grain from the lake" under specific historical backgrounds. "Extreme reclamation" exceeded the bearing capacity of Dongting Lake. "Prohibition of reclamation" was difficult to eliminate the hidden danger of floods caused by it, and the degree of "removal of embankments" was extremely limited. The research results provide original basic data for the rational development, utilization and protection of land and resources in the lake area and the scientific planning of lake management ideas.