-
The Lop Nur Enigma: From Thriving Oasis to Desiccated “Ear of the Earth”
Lop Nur is at the lowest point of the Tarim Basin. It was once the second largest inland lake in my country, with the Tarim River and Kongque River flowing into it. But now, this lake has no water. The originally vast oasis turned into a sea of sand overnight, becoming the “Bermuda Triangle” of land that has been inaccessible to explorers throughout the ages. Some people say that a spell has been cast here, and that seems to be the case. Great changes take effect from the moment the “spell” is cast, gradually drying up every life. The mystery of the drying up of Lop Nur, the Sea of…
-
Unveiling the Tarim Basin: From Ancient Ocean Floor to Modern Oasis
This is a terrifying desert in the heart of Asia, but it was also an ancient land mass surrounded by oceans. The mountains here have witnessed the closure of ancient oceans one by one. The river here looks up at the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This is the Tarim Basin, one of the most desirable places for all geologists on earth. A huge “Book of the Earth” is spread out silently here, leaving behind riddles of the ancient earth with traces of various rocks and minerals. This is a place where relics from ancient times accumulate. A large amount of geological, geochemical and geophysical information is spread luxuriously and…
