Quantifying Landscape Differences Across the Tibetan Plateau: Implications for Topographic Relief Evolution J

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Quantifying Landscape Differences Across the Tibetan Plateau: Implications for Topographic Relief Evolution J JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 113, F04018, doi:10.1029/2007JF000897, 2008 Quantifying landscape differences across the Tibetan plateau: Implications for topographic relief evolution J. Liu-Zeng,1,2 P. Tapponnier,2 Y. Gaudemer,2 and L. Ding1 Received 28 August 2007; revised 4 September 2008; accepted 14 October 2008; published 31 December 2008. [1] We quantify the bulk topographic characteristics of the Tibet-Qinghai plateau with specific focus on three representative regions: northern, central, and southeastern Tibet. Quantitative landscape information is extracted from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation models. We find that the morphology of the Tibetan plateau is nonuniform with systematic regional differences. The northern and central parts of the plateau are characterized by what we suggest to call ‘‘positive topography,’’ i.e., a topography in which elevation is positively correlated with relief and mean slope. A major change from the internally drained central part of Tibet to the externally drained part of eastern Tibet is accompanied by a transition from low to high relief and from positive to ‘‘negative topography,’’ i.e., a topography where there is an inverse or negative correlation between elevation and relief and between elevation and mean slope. Relief in eastern Tibet is largest along rivers as they cross an ancient, eroded plateau margin at high angle to the major strike-slip faults, the Yalong-Yulong thrust belt, implying strong structural control of regional topography. We propose that the evolution of river systems and drainage efficiency, the ability of rivers to transport sediments out of the orogen, coupled with tectonic uplift, is the simplest mechanism to explain systematic regional differences in Tibetan landscapes. Basin filling due to inefficient drainage played a major role in smoothing out the tectonically generated structural relief. This mode of smoothing started concurrently with tectonic construction of the relief, as most clearly illustrated today in the Qilian Shan-Qaidam region of the northeastern plateau. In the interior of Tibet, further ‘‘passive’’ filling, due to internal drainage only, continued to smooth the local relief millions of years after the cessation of major phases of surface uplift due to crustal shortening. Thus, diachronous beveling at high elevation produced the low-relief surface of the high plateau. In southeast Tibet, headward retreat of external drainages brought back ‘‘in’’ the global ocean base level, first disrupting then interrupting the relief-reduction process. It produced a transitional topography by dissecting the ‘‘old’’ remnant plateau surface, which introduced younger and steeper incision of this hitherto preserved high base level. This provides a unifying mechanism for the formation of the low-relief plateau interior, and for the origin of the high-elevation, low-relief relict surface in southeastern Tibet. Our analysis brings forth the importance of surface processes, in particular drainage efficiency, in shaping plateau morphology and landscape relief. Such key processes appear to have been mostly ignored in numerical models of plateau deformation. Our results also cast doubt on and provide a more realistic alternative to the fashionable contention that a continuous preuplift, low-relief surface first formed at low elevation, extending all the way to the South China Sea shore, before being warped upward in the late Miocene-Pliocene by lower crustal channel flow. Citation: Liu-Zeng, J., P. Tapponnier, Y. Gaudemer, and L. Ding (2008), Quantifying landscape differences across the Tibetan plateau: Implications for topographic relief evolution, J. Geophys. Res., 113, F04018, doi:10.1029/2007JF000897. 1. Introduction 1Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. [2] The Tibetan plateau is the world’s highest and largest 2Laboratoire de Tectonique, Institut de Physique du Globe, Paris, orogenic plateau. It has a low-relief internally drained France. interior, flanked in the north and south by steep-sided edges [Fielding et al., 1994], the southern one including Earth’s Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union. 0148-0227/08/2007JF000897 highest summits with elevations greater than 8 km. Toward F04018 1of26 F04018 LIU-ZENG ET AL.: LANDSCAPE DIFFERENCES IN TIBET F04018 the southeast and northeast, the plateau shows more gently models addressing plateau uplift and growth. In this paper, tapered topography, providing escape routes for some of the we engage in a quantitative description of the bulk land- largest Asian rivers. scape characteristics of different regions of the Tibetan [3] Continuum models of Tibet plateau deformation have plateau. Our morphometric analysis of topography across been primarily motivated by these general topographic the plateau demonstrates the existence of systematic and features and their gravitational implications, and sometimes meaningful regional differences. The northern and central based solely upon them. For instance, the low-relief interior parts of the plateau can be characterized as regions of of the plateau has often been taken as evidence of viscous ‘‘positive’’ topography, i.e., where there is a positive corre- flow in the lower crust, a mechanism thought necessary to lation between relief and elevation, and between local slope smooth out irregularities in topography and crustal thick- and elevation. The change from the internally drained ness [Bird, 1991; Shen et al., 2001; McKenzie and Jackson, central plateau to the externally drained part of eastern 2002]. At the plateau scale, these continuum models, Tibet is accompanied by a transition from positive to whether the vertically averaged ‘‘thin viscous’’ sheet or ‘‘negative’’ topography, i.e., with inverse correlation be- the decoupled weaker lower crust flow classes of models, tween elevation, relief and slopes. Fluvial relief in eastern view the lateral growth of Tibet as being driven by stored Tibet is largest across a NE-trending topographic step that gravitational potential energy, through ‘‘concentric’’ out- may mark an ancient, eroded rim of the plateau. Regions ward spreading occurring more or less simultaneously along located southeast of this step do not show negative topog- all edges [e.g., England and Houseman, 1986, 1989; raphy. We propose that the evolution of river systems and Royden et al., 1997; Shen et al., 2001; Jimenez-Munt and drainage efficiency, the ability of rivers to transport sedi- Platt, 2006]. In such models, the southeastern plateau, ments out of the orogen, coupled with tectonic uplift, like the northeastern plateau, would have been rising fast provides a robust unifying mechanism to explain both the throughout the late Cenozoic to the present-day. In partic- way in which the plateau morphology and relief were ular, the more gently sloping topography in southeastern shaped and the systematic regional differences observed in Tibet has been taken as evidence for tilting of a low- the Tibetan landscape. elevation, low-relief surface driven by recent and ongoing [6] Similar techniques of large-scale topographic analysis lower crustal channel flow [Clark and Royden, 2000; have been applied to various regions [e.g., Ahnert, 1970, Clark et al., 2005, 2006]. In all these models, the current 1984; Koons, 1989; Ohmori, 1993; Brozovic´etal., 1997; topography and landscape morphology of the plateau are Brocklehurst and Whipple, 2004]. An overall study of the inferred to be a straight forward reflection of deep seated topography of the Tibet plateau was previously performed lower crust and mantle processes. By contrast, the impor- by Fielding et al. [1994] and Fielding [1996] using a 90 m tance of surficial erosion processes in shaping the landscape resolution digital elevation model (DEM). Their data (not is downplayed. publicly available at the time) was 100 times better in [4] Block models that include geological and tectonic resolution than ETOPO5 (5 min latitude/longitude gridded evidence make quite different predictions, in particular, that elevation data). These authors focused mainly on the the plateau has grown mostly toward the northeast, in flatness of Tibet, however, without characterizing regional stepwise fashion [Lacassin et al., 1997; Meyer et al., differences, even though the total area of Tibet is almost half 1998; Metivier et al., 1998; Tapponnier et al., 2001; Pares that of the contiguous United States. Yet inspection of et al., 2003]. On the basis of strike-slip driven mountain Tibet’s morphology shows that the plateau exhibits signif- growth and not just foreland thrust migration, Tapponnier et icant variations in interior relief. Besides, it is an assem- al. [2001] proposed a ‘‘three-step’’ model of sequential blage of tectonic terranes with different Phanerozoic uplifting (Figure 1a): south Tibet would have been the first histories that likely responded differently to the strain part of the plateau to rise during the Eocene. The region generated by the India/Eurasia collision, and that likely north and east of the Kunlun range would be the youngest rose diachronously since 55 Ma ago [e.g., Lacassin et part of the plateau, and would have risen fast due to crustal al., 1996; Meyer et al., 1998; Tapponnier et al., 2001]. With shortening, between the Pliocene and present. The region in the advent of freely accessible Shuttle Radar Topography between would have gone through its main phase of uplift Mission DEMs, which provide public access to a spatial between
Recommended publications
  • Research Article the Carboniferous Arc of the North Pamir
    GeoScienceWorld Lithosphere Volume 2021, Article ID 6697858, 26 pages https://doi.org/10.2113/2021/6697858 Research Article The Carboniferous Arc of the North Pamir 1 1 2 3 4 Johannes Rembe , Edward R. Sobel , Jonas Kley , Renjie Zhou , Rasmus Thiede , 5 and Jie Chen 1Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, 14476 Golm Potsdam, Germany 2Department of Structural Geology and Geodynamics, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany 3School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia QLD 4072, Australia 4Institute for Geosciences, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany 5State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, X9GJ+RV Chaoyang, Beijing, China Correspondence should be addressed to Johannes Rembe; [email protected] Received 28 October 2020; Accepted 7 January 2021; Published 8 February 2021 Academic Editor: Pierre Valla Copyright © 2021 Johannes Rembe et al. Exclusive Licensee GeoScienceWorld. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0). In this study, we investigate the age and geochemical variability of volcanic arc rocks found in the Chinese, Kyrgyz, and Tajik North Pamir in Central Asia. New geochemical and geochronological data together with compiled data from the literature give a holistic view of an early to mid-Carboniferous intraoceanic arc preserved in the northeastern Pamir. This North Pamir volcanic arc complex involves continental slivers in its western reaches and transforms into a Cordilleran-style collision zone with arc- magmatic rocks. These are hosted in part by Devonian to Carboniferous oceanic crust and the metamorphic Kurguvad basement block of Ediacaran age (maximum deposition age) in Tajikistan.
    [Show full text]
  • Studies on Ethnic Groups in China
    Kolas&Thowsen, Margins 1/4/05 4:10 PM Page i studies on ethnic groups in china Stevan Harrell, Editor Kolas&Thowsen, Margins 1/4/05 4:10 PM Page ii studies on ethnic groups in china Cultural Encounters on China’s Ethnic Frontiers Edited by Stevan Harrell Guest People: Hakka Identity in China and Abroad Edited by Nicole Constable Familiar Strangers: A History of Muslims in Northwest China Jonathan N. Lipman Lessons in Being Chinese: Minority Education and Ethnic Identity in Southwest China Mette Halskov Hansen Manchus and Han: Ethnic Relations and Political Power in Late Qing and Early Republican China, 1861–1928 Edward J. M. Rhoads Ways of Being Ethnic in Southwest China Stevan Harrell Governing China’s Multiethnic Frontiers Edited by Morris Rossabi On the Margins of Tibet: Cultural Survival on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier Åshild Kolås and Monika P. Thowsen Kolas&Thowsen, Margins 1/4/05 4:10 PM Page iii ON THE MARGINS OF TIBET Cultural Survival on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier Åshild Kolås and Monika P. Thowsen UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON PRESS Seattle and London Kolas&Thowsen, Margins 1/7/05 12:47 PM Page iv this publication was supported in part by the donald r. ellegood international publications endowment. Copyright © 2005 by the University of Washington Press Printed in United States of America Designed by Pamela Canell 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 5 4 3 2 1 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be repro- duced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any infor- mation storage or retrieval system, without permission in writ- ing from the publisher.
    [Show full text]
  • Himalayan Journal of Sciences Vol 2 Issue 4 (Special Issue) July 2004
    EXTENDED ABSTRACTS: 19TH HIMALAYA-KARAKORAM-TIBET WORKSHOP, 2004, NISEKO, JAPAN Northeastward growth and uplift of the Tibetan Plateau: Tectonic- sedimentary evolution insights from Cenozoic Hoh Xil, Qaidam and Hexi Corridor basins Chengshan Wang†‡*, Zhifei Liu§ and Lidong Zhu† † State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, CHINA ‡ China Univesity of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, CHINA § Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, CHINA * To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected] .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... The northeastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau was addressed distributed clastic sediments. The Hexi Corridor Basin was as a major uplift process of Northeast Tibet, deduced mainly from formed under the Altyn Tagh Fault activity as a strike-slip basin the Qaidam, Gonghe-Guide, and Hexi Corridor basins (Métivier started from 37.7 Ma. During 30.3-0.13 Ma period, with the et al. 1998; Pares et al. 2003). These studies contributed to a movement of the Qilian orogen, the basin depocenter shifted significant in understanding of the crustal thickening and oblique southwards to the mountain edge that indicates the formation stepwise rise of Plio-Quaternary Tibet (Meyer et al. 1998; of a foreland basin. From 0.13 Ma, the basin has evolved into an Tapponnier et al. 2001). But sedimentary basins in central Tibet intermontane basin with a less than 100 m thick sediments. still remain less studied because of harsh conditions for fieldwork. The three Cenozoic sedimentary basins have a similar The Hoh Xil Basin, as the largest Cenozoic sedimentary basin in tectonic-sedimentary history, i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • Carmala N. Garzione Curriculum Vitae – March 2018
    Carmala N. Garzione Curriculum Vitae – March 2018 PRESENT POSITION Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester Director, UR Center for Energy & Environment PERSONAL INFORMATION Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Address: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627 Telephone: 585-275-5713 e-mail: [email protected] RESEARCH INTERESTS Sedimentary basin evolution and tectonic history of mountain belts Interaction between climate and tectonics Stable isotopes in terrestrial paleoenvironmental studies Geochemical and petrologic provenance studies of siliciclastic sedimentary rocks EDUCATION 2000 Ph.D. in Geoscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 1996 M.S. in Geoscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 1994 B.S. in Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD APPOINTMENTS 2014 – present Director, Center for Energy and Environment, University of Rochester 2013 – present Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester 2010 – 2016 Chair, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester 2006 – 2013 Associate Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester 2000 – 2006 Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester 2003 – 2004 Visiting Research Associate, CIRES, University of Colorado, Boulder 1999 Chevron Internship, Asian Business Unit, Chevron Overseas Petroleum Inc., San Ramón, CA 1998 Chevron Internship,
    [Show full text]
  • Global Art and Heritage Law Series China
    GLOBAL ART AND HERITAGE LAW SERIES | CHINA REPORT GLOBAL ART AND HERITAGE LAW SERIES CHINA Prepared for Prepared by In Collaboration with COMMITTEE FOR A VOLUNTEER LAW FIRM CULTURAL POLICY FOR TRUSTLAW 2 GLOBAL ART AND HERITAGE LAW SERIES | CHINA REPORT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report has been prepared in collaboration with TrustLaw, the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global, legal pro bono service that connects law firms and legal teams to non-governmental organisations and social enterprises that are working to create social and environmental change. The Thomson Reuters Foundation acts to promote socio-economic progress and the rule of law worldwide. The Foundation offers services that inform, connect and ultimately empower people around the world: access to free legal assistance, media development and training, editorial coverage of the world’s under-reported stories and the Trust Conference. TrustLaw is the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global pro bono legal service, connecting the best law firms and corporate legal teams around the world with high-impact NGOs and social enterprises working to create social and environmental change. We produce groundbreaking legal research and offer innovative training courses worldwide. Through TrustLaw, over 120,000 lawyers offer their time and knowledge to help organisations achieve their social mission for free. This means NGOs and social enterprises can focus on their impact instead of spending vital resources on legal support. TrustLaw’s success is built on the generosity and commitment of the legal teams who volunteer their skills to support the NGOs and social enterprises at the frontlines of social change. By facilitating free legal assistance and fostering connections between the legal and development communities we have made a huge impact globally.
    [Show full text]
  • Report for the 40Th Session of the World Heritage Committee Istanbul (Turkey), 10 to 20 July 2016
    Report for the 40th Session of the World Heritage Committee Istanbul (Turkey), 10 to 20 July 2016 Date of the Report: June 2016 Name of the Centre: World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (WHITRAP) Address: 3F Wen Yuan Building, Tongji University, No. 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, P.R. China Telephone: +86 21 65987687 Name and contact information of the Director/Head: Mr. ZHOU Jian, Secretary-General of WHITRAP and Director of WHITRAP Shanghai; Ms. WU Chenyu, Director, WHITRAP Suzhou; Mr. SUN Hua, Director, WHITRAP Beijing 1. Institutional and operational structure of the Centre (Governing Board, Staffing, Operational funding and premises) Governing Board Rotating Secretariat WHITRAP WHITRAP WHITRAP Shanghai Suzhou Beijing The Rotating Secretariat has been located in Shanghai since 2012, which has three staff. WHITRAP Shanghai is supported by Tongji University, which has 11 staff. WHITRAP Suzhou is supported by the Suzhou Municipal Government, which has 9 staff. WHITRAP Beijing is supported by Peking University, which has 7 staff. 2. Updates on the management of the Centre – particularly on meetings of the Governing Board and key decisions adopted Not applicant. 3. Programs and activities implemented since April 2015 and planned for the current year N. Title of the activity Reference to WHCBS1 1 Organizing the Training Course on ‘Plateau World 7.2 Heritage Conservation’, Qinghai, 27-28 June 2016 2 Organizing the Training Course on ‘the Classical 3.4 Gardens
    [Show full text]
  • China Protected Areas Leadership Alliance Project
    China Protected Areas Leadership Alliance Project Strengthening Leadership Capacity for Effective Management of China’s Protected Areas YEAR III A partnership of the China State Forestry Administration The Nature Conservancy China Program East-West Center 10 May—8 June 2010 Table of Contents Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………………….…..…1 Map of China Model National Nature Reserves ………………………………………………………...…5 Descriptions of China’s 51 Model National Nature Reserves…………………………………..….………7 Training Needs for Protected Area Managers……………………………………………………….….…..20 Year III Participants……………….…………..………………………………………………….………...22 Participant Contact Information………………………………………………..…………….…….…….....31 Classroom Training Schedule, Beijing Forestry University ….……………………………………...…….34 Overview of Field Study and Collaborative Learning Component………......……………….……..…..….36 Map of U.S. Study Tour……………………….………………………………………………………..…..41 U.S. Field Study Agenda………………………………………………………………………...….………43 U.S. Field Study Organizations & Speakers……………………………………………….………..……...58 U.S. Field Study Speaker Contact Information……………………………………………………………..81 Project Staff ……………………………………….……………………………………………………......87 Project Staff Contact Information……………………………………………………………………….......90 Executive Summary Protection of the natural and cultural heritage of China depends on the effective management of the nation’s protected areas. The Government of China has set aside fifteen percent of its land as “protected areas,” including nature reserves and national parks. These protected
    [Show full text]
  • 02 山水自然保护中心 2016 年报 Publisher | Shan Shui Conservation Center
    02 山水自然保护中心 2016 年报 Publisher | Shan Shui Conservation Center Editors-in-chief | Wang Yan Wen Cheng Editors-in-charge | Yu Lu Gao Xiangyu Proofreaders | Yu Lu Gao Xiangyu Feng Yanqiu Art editor | He Qinghua Translator | Hu Jing Address | Peking University Conservation Biology Building, Haidian District, Beijing, 100871, China Tel | 010-62761034 Fax | 010-62761035 Web | http://www.shanshui.org QR Code to Shan Shui's WeChat page Email | [email protected] The collared owlet / photo by Gao Xiangyu ◎ CONTENTS shan shui Foreword Value Chains | Guardians Alliance 04 Ten-Year Milestones Lancang River Conservation Fund 06 40 Conservation Story: We are Born in the Cross- 08 Director's Message 45 border Rainforest Shan Shui 2016 10 International Nature Watch Festival in Namsee 48 12 Work Map Great Valley When Nature Reserves Become National Parks: 49 Will Humans Drive Wildlife Away? Fellowship | Conservation Research Land-Trust Conservation: Baixiongping Station Nature Watch 53 16 The Guardians' Story | True and Romantic Natural Heritage Conservation 54 17 The Little Wood Cabin: 365 Days in the Mountains Conservation-based Research 18 Volunteer Scientists 60 Conservation Story: 20 “Submerged Forest”: Why Should We Care for Stray Tibetan Dogs? 61 An Army of Species Show Up in Summer Palace! Snow Leopard China: 63 Field Practice | Community-based A Nongovernmental Snow Leopard Research and Conservation Conservation Network Grassland: Sanjiangyuan Conservation on Tibet- About Us 28 an Plateau Board Members 64 Conservation Story: My Life with Snow Leopards 29 Financial Overview 65 Watersheds: Conservation in the Southwestern 33 Our Team Mountain Areas 65 Conservation Story: 33 The Guanba Community-based Protected Area: Acknowledgments What Our Village Might Look Like in 50 Years 66 Forest and Climate Change 37 Forest: The Yunlong Tianchi Forest Restoration 37 Fresh Water: Beijing Urban Wetland Restoration 37 Foreword The year 2016 ended as a year of action for NGOs in China.
    [Show full text]
  • Geologic Factors Affecting Seismic Monitoring in China
    UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Geologic Factors Affecting Seismic Monitoring in China John R. Matzkoi Open-File Report 95-562 This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards. Any use of trade names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. JReston, Virgina 1995 Geologic Factors Affecting Seismic Monitoring in China Table of Contents Introduction ...................................................... 4 Rock Environments ................................................. 4 Igneous Rocks ............................................... 4 Metamorphic and Sedimentary Rocks ................................ 5 Ground Water Occurrences and Conditions ............................ 6 Principal Tectonic Regions ............................................. 7 Active Tectonics ..................................................... 8 Quaternary Volcanism ................................................ 10 Crustal Thickness and Characteristics ..................................... 11 Seismicity ........................................................ 13 Heat Flow ........................................................ 13 Salt Deposits ...................................................... 14 Oil and Natural Gas Development ........................................ 15 Mining Regions .................................................... 16 Karst ........................................................... 17 Loess
    [Show full text]
  • China Protected Areas Leadership Alliance Project
    China Protected Areas Leadership Alliance Project Strengthening Leadership Capacity for Effective Management of China’s Protected Areas YEAR II A partnership of the China State Forestry Administration The Nature Conservancy China Program East-West Center 4-31 May 2009 Table of Contents Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………………….…..…1 Map of China Model National Nature Reserves ………………………………………………………...…5 Descriptions of China’s 51 Model National Nature Reserves…………………………………..….………6 Training Needs for Protected Area Managers……………………………………………………….…….19 Year II Participants……………….……………………………………………………………….……….21 Participant Contact Information………………………………………………..…………….…….……...29 Classroom Training Schedule, Beijing Forestry University ….……………………………………...……31 Overview of Field Study and Collaborative Learning Component………......……………….…….…..…33 U.S. Field Study Agenda………………………………………………………………………...….……..36 U.S. Field Study Organizations…………………………………………………………….………..…….52 U.S. Field Study Speakers…………………………...……………………………………………….……60 U.S. Field Study Speaker Contact Information……………………………………………………………74 Project Staff ……………………………………….……………………………………………………....80 Project Staff Contact Information………………………………………………………………………....83 China Protected Areas Leadership Alliance Project Strengthening Leadership Capacity for Effective Management of China’s Protected Areas Executive Summary Protection of the natural and cultural heritage of China depends on the effective management of the nation’s protected areas. The Government of China has set aside fifteen
    [Show full text]
  • Kekexili Student Activity Booklet
    HANDOUT 1: MAPPING KEKEXILI The Chang Tang, or Northern Plateau, is a vast and remote, high altitude grassland in northern Tibet. Kekexili is located within the Chang Tang region. The snow‐capped mountains of Kekexili are the source of the Yangtze River. The river, the longest in Asia, flows eastward from Tibet through China. Travelers to Kekexili have described the landscape as barren and harsh, primitive and pristine. Elevation is approximately 16,000 feet (5,000 meters) above sea level. Because oxygen is thinner at such a high altitude, breathing becomes more difficult. Simple exertions like climbing or running can trigger a shortness of breath. The region poses extreme survival challenges for those who attempt to trek across the sweeping plateau. Quicksand is one danger, especially during the summer months when snow melts and rain drains quickly through the sandstone. Because the area lacks natural resources for building fires or shelters, humans risk death from exposure due to gale‐force winds and freezing temperatures (often well below zero degrees Fahrenheit). Except for some nomadic Tibetan tribes, few humans live in Kekexili. Many species of wildlife, however, thrive in this isolated place. Specifically, Kekexili is home to Chiru, or Tibetan antelope, as well as wild yaks and donkeys, white lip deer and brown bear. The Himalayan marmot, a type of rodent, burrows in the red sandstone, creating havens for spiders and other insects. Fox and falcons also find sanctuary in Kekexili. Did you know . .? In 2006, the Chinese government announced that a team of Kekexili is also known as Hoh Xil, geological experts had begun mapping this large uninhabited which means “beautiful maiden” region of western China.
    [Show full text]
  • To View the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China
    List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China Time in the List Heritage Sites Location Category 1987 The Great Wall Beijing Cultural Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing 1987, 2004 Dynasties (Forbidden City and Mukden Beijing Cultural Palace) Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (Terra- 1987 Xi'an, Shaanxi Cultural Cotta Warrior) Cultural and 1987 Mount Taishan Tai'an, Shandong Natural 1987 Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian Beijing Cultural 1987 Mogao Grottoes Dunhuang, Gansu Cultural Cultural and 1990 Mount Huangshan Huangshan, Anhui Natural Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest 1992 Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan Natural Area 1992 Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area Zhangjiajie, Hunan Natural 1992 Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area Huanglong, Sichuan Natural Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa 1994, 2000, 2001 Lhasa, Tibet Cultural (Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka) Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the 1994 Qufu, Shandong Cultural Kong Family Mansion Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang 1994 Shiyan, Hubei Cultural Mountains Chengde Mountain Resort and its Outlying 1994 Chengde, Hebei Cultural Temples in Chengde Mount Emei Scenic Area and Leshan Giant Cultural and 1996 Leshan, Sichuan Buddha Scenic Area Natural 1996 Lushan National Park Jiujiang, Jiangxi Cultural 1997 Old Town of Lijiang Lijiang, Yunan Cultural 1997 Ancient City of Pingyao Jinzhong, Shanxi Cultural Classic Gardens of Suzhou: Lion Grove, 1997, 2000 Humble Administrator Garden, Lingering Suzhou, Jiangsu Cultural Garden, Garden of Master of the Nets
    [Show full text]