Thought-Factory.net Philosophical Conversations Public Opinion philosophy.com Junk for code
PortElliot2.jpg
'An aphorism, properly stamped and molded, has not been "deciphered" when it has simply been read; rather one has then to begin its interpretation, for which is required an art of interpretation.' -- Nietzsche, 'On the Genealogy of Morals'
RECENT ENTRIES
SEARCH
ARCHIVES
Weblog Links
Library
Fields
Philosophers
Writers
Connections
Magazines
E-Resources
Academics
Other
www.thought-factory.net
'An aphorism, properly stamped and molded, has not been "deciphered" when it has simply been read; rather one has then to begin its interpretation, for which is required an art of interpretation.' -- Nietzsche, 'On the Genealogy of Morals'

desert lakes « Previous | |Next »
October 8, 2006

A satellite image of the Turpan Depression nestled at the foot of China's Bogda Mountains. It is courtesy of Jeff J Hemphill at UCSB Department of Geography, Santa Barbara, California:

Chinaturpan.jpg
Turpan Depression (salt lakes sand dunes below sea level), China, Landsat

Desert lakes are generally shallow, temporary, and salty. Because these lakes are shallow and have a low bottom gradient, wind stress may cause the lake waters to move over many square kilometers. When small lakes dry up, they leave a salt crust or hardpan. The flat area of clay, silt, or sand encrusted with salt that forms is known as a playa.

Turpan was once an important strategic point on the Silk Road. Is this desert and salt lake the result of human exploitation from agriculture based on tapping the water in the wells at the base of the mountains? The Karez, an irrigation system of wells connected by underground canals, is considered as one of the three great ancient projects in China.

| Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at 11:17 PM | | Comments (0)
Comments