Post by L Roebuck on Oct 12, 2007 7:54:18 GMT -5
Desert expansion threatening Mogao Grottoes
Cnina Daily E-Zine
Kumtag, China's sixth largest desert, is expanding by one to four meters eastward annually, posing a threat to the Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Caves of 1,000 Buddhas, in northwestern Gansu Province.
The nearest floating dune of the desert is only five km away from the Dunhuang city, where the grottoes locate, said Gao Hua, head of the city tourism administration.
A scientific research group has just concluded China's first comprehensive environmental survey of the stark desert, which is found to be expanding in all directions, posing direct threat to local grassland, oasis, nature reserves and the caves, a UNESCO-listed world heritage site.
Full Text
Cnina Daily E-Zine
Kumtag, China's sixth largest desert, is expanding by one to four meters eastward annually, posing a threat to the Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Caves of 1,000 Buddhas, in northwestern Gansu Province.
The nearest floating dune of the desert is only five km away from the Dunhuang city, where the grottoes locate, said Gao Hua, head of the city tourism administration.
A scientific research group has just concluded China's first comprehensive environmental survey of the stark desert, which is found to be expanding in all directions, posing direct threat to local grassland, oasis, nature reserves and the caves, a UNESCO-listed world heritage site.
Full Text