The state of nature in Tibet. Animals of Tibet - interesting and rare representatives of this region The phenomenon of "clay-sedimentary forests"

Introduction

Tibet is the main source of the great rivers of Asia. Tibet is high mountains, as well as the most extensive and highest plateau in the world, ancient forests and many deep valleys untouched by human activity.

The traditional economic and religious value system of Tibet has led to the development of environmentally friendly practices. According to the Buddhist teachings about the right way of life followed by the Tibetans, "moderation" is important, the refusal to overconsume and overexploit natural resources, because it is believed that this causes harm to living beings and their ecology. As early as 1642, the Fifth Dalai Lama issued the Decree for the Protection of Animals and Nature. Since then, such decrees have been issued annually.

With the colonization of Tibet by Communist China, the traditional Tibetan defense system environment was destroyed, which led to the destruction of nature by man on a terrifying scale. This is especially evident in the state of pastures, arable lands, forests, water and animal life.

Pastures, fields and agricultural policy in China

70% of the territory of Tibet is pasture. They are the basis of the country's agrarian economy, in which livestock plays a leading role. The total number of livestock is 70 million heads per one million pastoralists.

Over the centuries, Tibetan nomads have adapted well to working in the unsteady mountain pastures. The Tibetans have developed a certain culture of pastoralism: constant accounting of the use of pastures, responsibility for their ecological safety, systematic movement of herds of yaks, sheep, goats.

Over the past four decades, many pastures have ceased to exist. The transfer of such lands for the use of Chinese settlers led to significant desertification of the lands, turning them into territories unsuitable for agriculture. Especially large desertification of pastures occurred in Amdo.

The situation was further worsened by the fencing of pastures, when Tibetan pastoralists were further restricted in space and deprived of their ability to roam with herds from place to place, as they used to do. Only in the Maghu district of Amdo region, one third of all land with an area of ​​more than ten thousand square kilometers was fenced for herds of horses, herds of sheep and large cattle belonging to the Chinese army. And at the same time, the best pastures in the Ngapa, Golok and Qinghai provinces were given to the Chinese. The main arable lands of the Tibetans are the river valleys in Kham, the Tsangpo valley in U-Tsang, and the Machhu valley in Amdo. The main grain crop grown by the Tibetans is barley, with additional cereals and legumes. The traditional agricultural culture of the Tibetans includes: the use of organic fertilizers, crop rotation, mixed planting, resting the land under fallow, which is necessary to conserve the land that is part of the sensitive mountain ecosystems. The average grain harvest in U-Tsang is two thousand kilograms per hectare and even higher in the fertile valleys of Amdo and Kham. This exceeds the harvest in countries with similar climatic conditions. For example, in Russia the average grain yield is 1700 kg per hectare, while in Canada it is 1800.

Maintaining an ever-increasing number of Chinese military, civilian personnel, settlers, and agricultural exports has led to the expansion of cropland through the use of mountain slopes and marginal soils, to an increase in the area under wheat (which the Chinese prefer to Tibetan barley), to the use of hybrid seeds, pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Diseases constantly attacked new varieties of wheat, and in 1979 the entire wheat crop died. Before the Chinese began to migrate to Tibet by the millions, there was never a need for a significant increase in agricultural production.

Forests and their deforestation

In 1949, the ancient forests of Tibet covered 221,800 km2. By 1985, almost half of this remained - 134 thousand km2. Most of the forests grow on the slopes of the mountains, in the river valleys of the southern, lowest, part of Tibet. The main types of forests are tropical and subtropical coniferous forests with spruce, fir, pine, larch, cypress; mixed with the main forest there are birch and oak. Trees grow at altitudes up to 3800 meters in the humid southern region and up to 4300 meters in the semi-dry northern region. Tibetan forests consist predominantly of old trees over 200 years old. The density of forests is 242 m3 per hectare, although in U-Tsang the density of old forests has reached 2300 m3 per hectare. This is the highest density for conifers.

The emergence of roads in remote parts of Tibet has led to an increase in deforestation. It should be noted that the roads are built either by the PLA or with the help of the engineering teams of the Ministry of Forestry of China, and the cost of their construction is considered as an expense for the "development" of Tibet. As a result, ancient forests became accessible. The main method of logging is a simple felling, which has led to significant exposure of the hillsides. The volume of logging before 1985 amounted to 2 million 442 thousand m2, or 40% of the total forest volume in 1949, worth 54 billion US dollars.

Logging is the main area of ​​employment today for the population in Tibet: in the Kongpo "TAR" region alone, more than 20,000 Chinese soldiers and prisoners were employed in felling and transporting timber. In 1949, 2.2 million hectares of land were forested in the Ngapa region of Amdo. And forest resources amounted to 340 million m3. In 1980, the forest area decreased to 1.17 million km2 with a resource of 180 million m3. At the same time, until 1985, China mined 6.44 million m3 of timber in the Kanlho Tibet Autonomous Prefecture. If these timber, 30 cm in diameter and three meters long, are laid out in one line, then it is possible to circle the globe twice.
Further devastation and destruction of the ecology of the Tibetan Plateau, the most unique place on earth, continues.

Natural and artificial reforestation has a small scale due to the characteristics of the region's topography, land and humidity, as well as high temperatures fluctuations during the day and high temperatures on the soil surface. In such environmental conditions, the destructive consequences of clear-cutting forests are irreparable.

Water resources and river energy

Tibet is the main watershed of Asia and the source of its major rivers. The main part of the rivers of Tibet is stable. As a rule, they flow from underground sources or are collected from glaciers. Rivers in most neighboring countries depends on the amount of precipitation at different times of the year.
90% of the length of rivers born in Tibet is used outside of it, and less than 1% of the total length of rivers can be used in Tibet. Today the rivers of Tibet have the highest sedimentary rates. Machhu (Huang He or Yellow River), Tsangpo (Brahmaputra), Drighu (Yangtze) and Senge Khabab (Indus) are the five most muddy rivers in the world. The total area irrigated by these rivers, if we take the territory from the Machhu basin in the east to the Senge Khabab basin in the west, accounts for 47% of the world's population. There are two thousand lakes in Tibet. Some of them are considered sacred or occupy a special place in the life of the people. Their total area is 35 thousand km2.

The steep slopes and powerful torrents of the Tibetan rivers have a potential operating energy of 250,000 megawatts. The TAR rivers alone have 200,000 megawatts of potential energy.

Tibet ranks second in the world in potential solar energy after the Sahara desert. The average annual figure is 200 kilocalories per centimeter of surface. The geothermal resources of the Tibetan land are also significant. Despite the presence of such a significant potential of small environmentally friendly sources, the Chinese have built huge dams, such as Longyang Si, and continue to build them, such as the Yamdrok Yutso hydroelectric station.

Many of these projects are designed to use the hydro potential of the Tibetan rivers to provide energy and other benefits to industry and the Chinese population in Tibet and in China itself. But the ecological, cultural and human tribute for these projects will be taken from the Tibetans. While Tibetans are driven from their lands and from their homes, tens of thousands of Chinese workers are coming from China to build and operate these power plants. These dams are not needed by the Tibetans, they did not ask for them to be built. Take, for example, the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in Yamdrok Yutso. The Chinese said that this construction would bring great benefits to the Tibetans. The Tibetans and their leaders, the late Panchen Lama and Ngapo Ngawang Jigme, resisted and delayed construction for several years. However, the Chinese did start construction, and today 1,500 PLA ​​soldiers guard the construction and prevent civilians from being near it.

Minerals and mining

According to official Chinese sources, Tibet has deposits of 126 minerals, holding a large part of the world's reserves of lithium, chromium, copper, borax and iron. The oil fields in Amdo produce more than one million tons of crude oil per year.

The network of roads and communications built by the Chinese in Tibet reflects the pattern of timber and minerals that are indiscriminately mined at the behest of the Chinese government. With seven of China's own fifteen key minerals due to be mined within this decade, and with the major non-iron mineral reserves virtually depleted, Tibet's mineral production is on the rise. It is assumed that by the end of this century, China plans to carry out its main mining operations in Tibet. In places where minerals are mined, nothing is done to protect the environment. Especially where the soil is unstable, the lack of environmental protection measures results in destabilization of the landscape, destruction of the fertile layer, and danger to human health and life.

Animal world

Many animals and birds have disappeared due to the destruction of their habitats, as well as because of the sports passion of hunters and because of the revival of the illegal trade in wild animals and birds. There is much evidence that Chinese soldiers use machine guns to shoot herds of wild yaks and donkeys out of a sporting passion.

Unlimited destruction of wild animals continues today. Rare animal hunting "tours" organized for wealthy foreigners are regularly advertised in the Chinese media. For example, "hunting tours" are offered for wealthy athletes from the US and Europe. These "hunters" can kill such rare animals as Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsoni), argali sheep (Ovis ammon hodgsoni), species that obviously should be under state protection. Hunting for the Tibetan antelope costs 35 thousand US dollars, for the Argali sheep - 23 thousand, for the white-lipped fallow deer (Cervus albirostris) - 13 thousand, for the blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) - 7900, for the red fallow deer (Cerrus elaphus) - 3500. Such " tourism" will lead to the irretrievable loss of many Tibetan animal species before they can be discovered and studied. In addition, it poses an obvious threat to the conservation of animal species that have great importance for the culture of Tibet and of great value to civilization.

The White Paper admits that a large number of animals are on the "brink of extinction". At the same time, the "Red List of Rare Animal Species" of 1990 of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature contains thirty species of animals living in Tibet.

Measures to preserve the fauna of Tibet, excluding areas that became part of the Chinese provinces, were taken long after such measures were introduced in China itself. It was said that the areas that fell under the protection of the state in 1991, in general, occupy 310 thousand km2, which is 12% of the territory of Tibet. The effectiveness of the protection cannot be determined due to the severely restricted access to these areas, as well as the secrecy of the actual data.

Nuclear and toxic waste

According to the Chinese government, there are approximately 90 nuclear warheads in Tibet. And according to the "Ninth Academy" - the China Northwest Academy for the Development and Creation of Nuclear Weapons, located in the northeastern part of Tibet - Amdo, the Tibetan plateau is contaminated with an unknown amount of radioactive waste.

According to a report prepared by the International Movement for the Protection of Tibet, a Washington-based organization: "The disposal of the waste was carried out with extremely dangerous methods. Initially, they were buried in unmarked folds of the terrain ... The nature and amount of radioactive waste received in the Ninth Academy is still are unknown... In the 60s and 70s, nuclear waste from technological processes was disposed of carelessly and unsystematically.Waste received at the Academy has a different form: liquid, solid and gaseous substances.Liquid and solid waste should be located in nearby lands and waters".

China's official statements have confirmed that Tibet has the largest uranium reserves in the world. There is evidence that uranium is processed in Tibet and that in Ngapa, in Amdo, there have been cases of death among local residents as a result of drinking radioactive water located near a uranium mine.

locals they also talked about the birth of ugly children and animals. Since the flow of groundwater in Amdo is now driven by the rate of natural flow, and there is very little usable water (one report estimates the groundwater supply is between 340 million and four billion cubic feet - He Bochuan, pp.39), radioactive contamination this water is a major concern. Since 1976, uranium has also been mined and processed in the Thewo and Dzorg areas in Kham.
In 1991, Greenpeace revealed plans to ship toxic urban waste from the US to China to be used as "fertilizer" in Tibet. The use of toxic wastes such as fertilizer in the US itself has led to disease outbreaks.

Conclusion

Complex ecological problems Tibet cannot be reduced to external changes, such as turning patches of land into national reserves or issuing laws for the citizens, when the real environmental criminal is the government itself. The political will of the Chinese leadership is needed to give the Tibetans the right to use nature themselves in the way they used to do, relying on their traditional and conservative customs.

According to the proposal of the Dalai Lama, all of Tibet should be turned into a zone of peace in which man and nature can coexist harmoniously. As the Dalai Lama said, such a Tibet should become a completely demilitarized country with a democratic form of government and an economic system that would ensure the long-term use of the country's natural resources in order to maintain a good standard of living for the people.

Ultimately, this is also of long-term interest to Tibet's neighboring countries such as India, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan, since Tibet's ecology will have a great impact on their nature as well. Almost half of the world's population, especially the population of these countries, depends on the condition of the rivers originating in Tibet. Some of the major floods that have occurred in these countries in the past decade are related to the sedimentation of Tibetan rivers due to deforestation. The destructive potential of these rivers is increasing every year as China continues to deforest and mine uranium on the Roof of the World.

China acknowledges the presence of "pollution in some parts of the rivers." Since river flows do not recognize political boundaries, Tibet's neighbors have a reasonable basis for knowing which rivers are polluted, how badly and with what. If decisive action is not taken today to stop the threat, then the rivers of Tibet, which gave joy and life, will one day bring sorrow and death.

Tibet Autonomous Region is located on the southwestern outskirts of China, between 26 degrees. 50 min. and 36 deg. 53 min. north latitude, 78 deg. 25 min. and 99 deg. 06 min. east longitude. The TAR area is 1200 thousand sq. km. (about one-eighth of the territory of China), equals the area of ​​Great Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg combined. In terms of area, TAR ranks second among the provinces of China after the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR). In the north, TAR is adjacent to Xinjiang and Qinghai Province; in the east and southeast - with the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, in the south and west it borders on Burma, India, Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal, as well as on the Kashmir region. The length of the state border within the TAR is 4000 km.

Administratively, TAR is divided into 6 districts: Shannan, Lingzhi, Ngari, Shigatse, Nagchu and Chamdo, there are two cities: Lhasa (at the district level) and Shigatse (at the county level) and 71 counties. The capital of the TAR is Lhasa. The second largest city is Shigatse. In addition, important settlements are Zedang, Bai, Nagchu, Chamdo, Shiquanhe, Gyangtse, Zham.

According to the data of the 5th all-Chinese census in 2000, the population of the TAR is 2616.3 thousand people, Tibetans make up 92.2%, Hans - 5.9%, Menba, Loba, Hui, Naxi make up 1.9%. TAR is the region of the lowest population density in China, on average per square kilometer. km. account for less than 2 people.

The high mountainous position has led to severe climatic conditions and a large temperature difference between day and night. But thanks to the strong insolation, the winter in Tibet is not at all so cold, in southern Tibet the average annual temperature is 8 degrees Celsius, in the northern regions the average annual temperature is below zero, in the central regions there are almost no severe frosts in winter, and rarely in summer heatwave. The best season for tourism is from March to October.

TAR is an area of ​​unique natural manifestations and numerous cultural and historical attractions. On the one hand, a tourist sees high mountain peaks piercing the sky, covered with eternal snows, full-flowing turbulent rivers, calm lakes, a change of vegetation belts on mountain slopes, and a rich wildlife. On the other hand, visitors will be able to get acquainted with such cultural and historical monuments as the Potala Palace, Jokhang, Tashilumpo, Sakya, Drapung monasteries, the settlement of the ancient kingdom of Guge, and the tombs of Tufan kings. Some of these monuments are included in the list of protected monuments of national significance. Tourists will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the customs and life of the Tibetans and folk culture. In many respects, Tibet ranks first in China, Asia and the world. It contains 5 tourist landscape areas of the state category "4A", 3 national reserves, one landscape area of ​​the state category, one forest park and one geological park of national importance, the ancient city of Lhasa and more than 100 cultural and historical monuments, among which 3 are officially listed on the world cultural heritage list. The prospects for the development of tourism in Tibet are excellent. According to experts, Tibet may well become one of the tourist areas of world importance.

Rich natural resources

Zoological and relief features

The Tsyghai-Tibetan Plateau is one of the youngest highlands in the world, it also has no equal in area and height above sea level. No wonder it is called the "roof of the world" and "the third pole of the Earth." From the point of view of unique natural conditions and specific ecology, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is an ideal place for tourism. Since the Tibetan Plateau is the main component of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, often speaking of the Tibetan Plateau, they mean the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

As evidenced by the fossils of three-hoofed animals that lived in the early Pliocene, as well as numerous relict plants, in the late stage of the Tertiary period, present-day Tibet rose only 1,000 meters above sea level; tropical jungle and grasses, the climate was hot and humid. And only over the next 3 million years, as a result of mountain building, Tibet rose on average to 4000 meters above sea level. Moreover, the process of land uplift occurred especially quickly in the last 10 thousand years, on average, the rise was 7 cm per year, in total, such rates were maintained during the increase in altitude by 700 meters above sea level. Accurate measurements show that the process of land uplift in Tibet has not stopped even today.

Today, the average height of the Tibetan plateau above sea level is 4000 meters, there are about 50 mountain peaks over 7000 meters high, among them 11 peaks are over 8000 meters high. Among them is the highest peak in the world, Chomolungma. The Tibetan plateau has a pronounced slope from the northwest to the southeast. The relief is complex and diverse: along with snowy mountains, there are deep gorges, glaciers, bare rocks, there are areas of permafrost, deserts, heaps of clay rocks, gobi, etc. They say about Tibet that here “on one mountain you can simultaneously observe four seasons”, that “you won’t pass even 10 whether, how the landscape has changed all around.”

Tibet is rich in minerals. 90 species have already been discovered, and for 11 of the 26 types of ore raw materials, the reserves of which have been clarified, Tibet is in the top five in China.

Mountains

Tibet is often referred to as the "Sea of ​​Mountains". In the north of the region stretches the majestic Kunlun ridge and its branch - the Tangla ridge, in the south the highest and youngest mountain system in the world - the Himalayas is piled up, in the west there is the Karakoram ridge, in the east the Hengduanshan ridge abounds with high peaks and deep gorges, inside the Tibet region there is a mountain ridge Gangdise - Nengchentanglha and its spurs. All these mountains are covered with snow all year round and have an impregnable and majestic view.

The Himalayan mountain system has a length of 2400 kilometers, a width of 200-300 kilometers, on the main ridge the average height of suitable peaks is 6200 meters, the height of 50 peaks exceeds 7000 meters. Such a concentration of the highest mountain peaks is a unique phenomenon in the world.

The Gangdise-Nengchentanglha range is the watershed between Southern and Northern Tibet, between the internal and waste rivers of Tibet.

Kunlun is the border between Tibet and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regions. This highest ridge transversely cuts the central part of Asia, for which it received the name "the ridge of Asia." It is one of the places of the most concentrated concentration of eternal snows and glaciers in China.

Tangla mountain range - the natural border of Tibet and Qinghai province, the highest peak of the ridge - Geladendong has a height of 6621 meters, it originates from here greatest river China - Yangtze.

Due to differences in height, geological structure and geographical position, the various mountains of Tibet differ in their characteristic features and are an interesting object of observation and study. In winter, all the mountains are covered with snow, and in summer, the mountains of Eastern Tibet are covered with green vegetation, the mountains of Northern Tibet look yellow-green, the mountains of Shannan County and the Lhasa region are purple, the mountains of Shigatse County are purple, the Igun Mountains look black-brown.

Usually the most famous mountains of inland China are rich in cultural monuments, architectural structures, rock inscriptions, drawings and bas-reliefs. In contrast, the Tibetan mountains have retained their natural color and appearance.

Peak Chomolungma

Chomolungma Peak, height 8848.13 meters - the main peak of the Himalayan mountains and the highest peak in the world - is located on the border of China with Nepal, on the Chinese side, Chomolungma is located within Tingri County. Proudly ascending like a dazzling pyramid, Chomolungma looks great, and in its vicinity with a radius of 20 km. there are other 5 peaks with a height of more than 8000 meters (there are 14 such peaks in the world), in addition, 38 peaks with a height of more than 7000 meters. Such a concentrated collection of the highest mountain peaks is a unique phenomenon in the world.

As geological surveys have shown, mesozoic era(230 million - 70 million years ago) the region of the Chomolungma peak was a sea, the uplift of the seabed began in the late period of the Tertiary period of the Cenozoic. Moreover, the process of land uplift is still ongoing, the height of the Chomolungma increases by 3.2 - 12.7 mm per year.

It is interesting that a cloud constantly rises above the Chomolungma peak, taking the form of either a cloud or a white fog, resembling either a flying horse or the thinnest muslin in the hands of a fairy. Looking at Chomolungma, a person, as it were, renounces mortal worries, being transported to transcendental heights.

In recent years, interest in Chomolungma among mountaineering enthusiasts has unusually increased. Many of them dream of climbing this impregnable mountain and reaching the top. The best time for climbing is March-end of May and September-end of October, when the weather is relatively warm and there are no heavy rains and snowfalls.

On the northern slope of the Chomolungma, on the border of the Zhongbu glacier, there is the Zhongbusy monastery of the Nyigma sect, this is the highest monastery in the world (height above sea level is 5154 m).

It is said that it is best to observe the peak from here. Today this monastery serves as a base for climbers to the peak, it is equipped with rooms for housing. Tourists can use this base as a mountain hotel.

Peak Kangrinbtse

Peak Kangrinbtse - the main peak of the Gangdise mountain range, has long been revered in Asia as a "sacred" mountain.

The shape of the peak is round, it is distinguished by the correct symmetry of the slopes, the peak is hidden under a snow cap all year round.

The height of Kangrinbtse is 6656 meters, not far from the peak, several large rivers of the world originate: the Indus River originates in the Shiquanhe (Lion Spring) spring, the Bramaputra originates in the Matquanhe (Horse Spring) spring, the Sutlej River originates in the Xiangquanhe (Elephant Spring), Ganges originates in the Kunquyehe (Peacock Spring) source.

The tradition of worshiping Mount Kangrinbtse dates back to times that are several centuries away from the beginning new era. And now it is considered a "sacred" mountain by supporters of Lamaism, Hinduism, Jainism and the Bon religion. Adherents of Hinduism consider Kangrinbtse peak to be the habitat of the supreme deity Brahma, adherents of Jainism believe that it was this peak that became the abode of Leshabah, the first adherent of Jainism to receive “liberation”, adherents of Lamaism consider Kangrinbtse peak to be the personification of the “originally revered” Shenle vajra and his wife. Supporters of the Bon religion consider Kangrinbtse to be the center of the universe and the dwelling place of the gods. The most common cult event is a sacred procession around the mountain, however, adherents different religions detour routes and ways of worship are different. The flow of pilgrims here does not stop, not only from the Tibetan-populated areas of China, but also from India, Nepal and Bhutan. Cult events are especially solemn in the year of the Horse according to the Tibetan calendar.

Karst relief

In the northern suburb of the county center of Amdo, located at an altitude of 4800 meters above sea level, there is Mount Razh, remarkable for the fact that on its spurs there are many limestone pillars formed as a result of karst processes. Some of these pillars resemble pagodas, others are spindle-shaped, the average height of the pillars is 20-40 meters, but there are also 60-meter rocks. Most of the limestone pillars have caves and grottoes, in some caves stalactites and stalagmites have been preserved. Local residents consider Mount Raj sacred, tourism authorities believe that it is a great place for rock climbers, and scientists say that once in these places the relief and landscape were the same as now in Guilin. Karst relief and formations are widespread in Tibet. In addition to Amdo County, they are located in the western suburbs of Lhasa, near the new and old county towns of Tingri, in Rutog County, on the shore of Lake Namtso, near the county center of Markam and in other places. They are the remains of karst structures formed during the Neogene period (25 million-3 million years ago). Over 3 million years, during the processes of glaciation, erosion and sudden changes in temperature, these terrestrial karst structures disappeared, but then, in the process of raising the land, underground karst formations hidden under the soil cover came to the surface, and they can be observed today.

The karst caves of Janang, Lhyundze, Damshung, Chamdo, Riwoche and Biru are well known. In the eyes of believers, these caves are surrounded by supernatural mystery, but tourism authorities see them as excellent objects of tourist excursions. The Machzhala cave in the Rivoche district is distinguished by its completeness of form and wonderful landscapes; attractive karst cave Gupu on the top of the mountain (altitude 5400 meters) in the parish of Tsunka, Chamdo district. The cave, meandering, goes far into the depth of 10 kilometers, stalactites rise inside and stalagmites hang down, and placers of multi-colored pebbles come across outside the cave. There is a cave on the Zhasi Peninsula of Namtso Lake in Northern Tibet, inside which there is a stone forest grove, a natural bridge and other attractions.

Zhayamzong Cave in Janang County, Shannan County is well known not only in Tibet. The cave is located on Mount Zhayamzong on the northern shore of the Tsangpo. The cave has three entrances facing south, with two of them joining inside. The largest cave stretches to a depth of 13 meters, has a width of 11 meters and a height of 15 meters, an area of ​​100 square meters. The cave was previously used as a hall of Buddhist saints and a prayer hall for reading sutras, and there are frescoes on the walls. Currently, the hall of Buddhist saints has been restored. To the west of the large cave, on a sheer cliff, there is an entrance to another cave. According to legend, the founder of the Nyigma sect of Tibetan Buddhism Lianhuasheng comprehended holiness in it. This cave communicates with a large cave. Even further to the west is the third cave, the length of which is 55 meters deep. In all three caves there are bizarre stalactites that make a ringing sound when struck.

Meimu Cave is located at the junction of Biru and Bachen counties. The entrance to the cave is located on the side of the mountain, inside the cave there is another cave. At a distance of 1.5 km. from the cave is a place where pilgrims come to worship the Buddha. It is said that here more than 500 sacred "signs" and "divine manifestations" appear to a person.

The phenomenon of "clay-sedimentary forests"

Tree-like sedimentary strata are another object of interest to the explorer and traveler.

In Zanda County, in the valley of the Xiangquanhe River, which flows between the Himalayan Range and the Gangdisse Mountains, thick sedimentary formations resembling the trunks of giant trees rise. These strata, which are compressed deposits of sandstone, clay and pebbles, were formed in the Quaternary period on the basis of bottom sediments of rivers and lakes. In Zanda County, these "sandy-clay forests" cover several hundred square kilometers. In shape, some of them resemble tubs lined up in a row, others look like ancient castles. Looking at them, one involuntarily recalls the table-like sedimentary landscape in the Colorado River Valley in the USA.

In addition, cave dwellings in which people lived in ancient times, as well as rock paintings, have been preserved in the Zanda county. Therefore, some scholars believe that it was here that the capital of the Xiangxiong kingdom, the city of Qionlongeka, was located, which is mentioned in the sources of the Bon religion.

Glaciers

Tibet is a place that knows no equal in the world for the abundance of glaciers. There are 2,756 glaciers in the area west of Bomi County alone. One of the glaciers of the Himalayan mountains - Zemayantszong gives rise to the Tsangpo River.

Glaciers are massive accumulations of ice and snow that have formed over thousands of years. Today, glaciers are of great interest to tourists and researchers. Sometimes glacial formations take curious forms, for example, a mushroom shape (such ice mushrooms sometimes reach a height of 5 meters), the shape of impregnable ice walls and screens, or the shape of ice pagodas, very similar to pyramids or bell towers, or the shape of a spear piercing the sky or a shape majestically calm giraffe.

In the process of formation of ice "sculpture", an important role is played by the partial melting of ice under the influence solar heat, usually this process requires several tens or even a hundred years.

According to glaciologists, the phenomena of a large accumulation of ice pagodas are found exclusively in the Himalayas and the Karakorum. Clusters of ice pagodas are well known in the area of ​​Chomolungma Peak and Shishabangma Peak.

In the basin of Lake Yamjo-yumtso there is a pyramid-shaped mountain peak Karoo with a height of 6629 m, on its northern side rises the Neujingkansan peak (7194 m) - the highest peak of the southern watershed of Tibet. There are 54 modern glaciers on the slopes and in the vicinity of these two peaks. All together they form glaciers) about the Cagera zone with an area of ​​130 sq. km. Up from the triangular platform on the route is the Qiangyong Glacier. It originated on the northeastern slope of Karusyun Peak and is the source of one of the tributaries of the Karusyunqiuhe River. Three peaks: Noijingkansan, Jiangsanlamu and Jiangsusun are already open for tourists and climbers.

The famous Rongbu Glacier is only 300 meters from Rongbu Monastery. The glacier occupies a vast expanse at the foot of the Chomolungma at an altitude of 5300 - 6300 m. It consists of three glaciers: Western, Middle and Eastern, the total length of the glacier is 26 km, the average width of the glacial tongue is 1.4 km, the total area is 1500 sq. km. This glacier - the largest of the glaciers in the Chomolungma region - is known in the world as exemplary in terms of completeness of formation and degree of preservation. Here you can observe bowl-shaped, hanging glaciers and glacial moraines, hummocks resembling bizarre pagodas, lakes of glacial water and sheer knife-shaped ice sheets. Ice castles, bridges, table-shaped and pyramidal formations, figures of outlandish animals - as if a skilled sculptor had worked here. Three glaciers to the north merge into one, bordering the Chomolungma peak.

In Burang county of Ngari district in the vicinity of Kangrinbtse peak and Lake Mapam-yumtso on an area of ​​200 sq. km. there are 10 mountain peaks over 6000 m high. These peaks, on the slopes of which there are many glaciers, are an excellent place for climbing.

In Bomi, called "Tibetan Switzerland", there are many glaciers that owe their formation to the moist winds blowing from the Indian Ocean. Known, for example, are the glaciers Kachin, Tsepu and Zhogo. Including the Kachin Glacier is one of the three largest glaciers in China. Its length is 19 km., The area is 90 sq. km. It is the largest ice shelf in China.

Reservoirs in Tibet are represented by rivers, lakes, springs and waterfalls.

Rivers

Tibet is exceptionally rich in rivers. Not only the Tsangpo with its five tributaries: Lhasa, Nyangchu, Niyan, Parlung-tsangpo and Dosyun-tsangpo flows in the region, but also the rivers Nujiang, Yangtze, Lancangjiang (Mekong) and others originate. The Sengge-tsangpo (Shiquanhe) River - the beginning of the Indus, Langchen-tsangpo (Xiangquanhe) - the upper reaches of the Sutlej River.

Tibet accounts for 15% of China's hydropower reserves, and in terms of their size, it ranks first among the provinces of China. Moreover, the hydropower reserves of each of the 365 rivers exceed 10,000 kilowatts. The Tibetan rivers are characterized by the almost complete absence of sandy-silty impurities in the water, exceptional transparency and low temperature water.

From the point of view of tourism, the basins of the Tsangpo River, revered by the Tibetans as the "mother river", and its five tributaries are of great importance.

The Tsangpo River makes a sharp turn here, forming a horseshoe-shaped deep canyon.

Tsangpo - the most big river in Tibet and the highest river in the world. It originates from the Zemayantszong glacier on the northern slope of the Himalayas, flows through 23 counties of four cities and districts:

Shigatse, Lhasa, Shannan and Lingzhi. Within China, the length of Tsangpo is 2057 kilometers, the basin area is 240 thousand square kilometers. In Medog county, the Tsangpo leaves China and flows there under the name Brahmaputra. Crossing India and Bangladesh, it flows into the Indian Ocean. The area of ​​the upper reaches of the Tsangpo, above Shigatse, has an exceptionally cold climate and is difficult for tourists to reach. From Shigatse to Qiushui Bridge, a highway winds along the coast, following which passengers can admire the surrounding scenery. On the segment between the Qiushui Bridge and Gyatsa, the Tsangpo widens, the current becomes smoother and calmer. On both banks rise mountain spurs covered with virgin forest. The attention of tourists is attracted by the lonely peak of Namjagbarwa, a sandbank in the middle of the river and other views that resemble paintings in the genre of "mountains and waters". This route is one of the most popular in Tibet.

Grand Canyon of Tsangpo

In the place where the counties of Manling and Medog (95 degrees east longitude, 29 degrees north latitude) border, the Tsangpo current encounters the Namjagbarwa mountain peak - the highest peak of the Eastern Himalayas (7782 m.). The river makes a sharp turn here, forming a horseshoe-shaped deep canyon, on the southern slope of which Namjagbarwa peak rises, and on the northern slope - Galabelay peak (7151m.). These peaks, rising 5-6 thousand meters above the surface of the water, squeezed the river from both sides, as if in a vise, leaving it the way through the "natural gates". The width of the river in the narrowest places does not exceed 80 meters. From a bird's eye view, the river looks like a thread cutting through the bulk of the rocks.

As a scientific expedition organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1994 proved, the Tsangpo Canyon is the world's first gorge in terms of length and depth. The length of the canyon from the village of Daduka (altitude 2880 m) in Menling County to the village of Batsoka (altitude 115 m) in Medog County is 504.6 kilometers, the maximum depth is 6009 meters, the average depth is 2268 meters. According to these parameters, the Grand Canyon of Tsangpo leaves behind the Colorado Canyon (depth 2133 meters, length 440 km.) And Kerka Canyon in Peru (depth 3200 meters). The scientific data that confirmed the world championship of the Grand Canyon of Tsangpo stirred up the world geographical community. Scientists have recognized the "discovery" of the Grand Canyon of Tsangpo as the most significant geographical discovery of the 20th century.

In September 1998, the State Council of the People's Republic of China officially approved the name of the Grand Canyon of Tsangpo "Yarlung Zangbo Daxiagu".

Parlung Tsangpo Canyon

In April 2002, Chinese scientists announced in Lhasa that their long-term scientific expedition proved that the Parlung-tsangpo canyon is the third longest and deepest gorge in the world, inferior to the Nepalese canyon (depth 4403 m.). In terms of depth, it leaves behind the Colorado Canyon in the USA (depth 2133 m) and the Kerka Canyon in Peru (depth 3200 m).

The Parlung-tsangpo River originates within Bashyo County, flows through Bomi, Lingzhi, and flows into the Tsangpo River. Its length is 266 km, the basin area is 28631 sq. km.

Parlung-tsangpo Canyon is located within Lingzhi County, has a holistic relief of the gorge, its length from Yong Lake is 50 km, and its length from the dammed lake near Gusyan Glacier is 76 km.

The Parlung Tsangpo River Basin is one of the three largest virgin forest areas in China, and is home to the Midui Glacier, Rawutso and Yong Lakes, and famous scenery areas.

The Parlung Tsangpo Canyon is of great importance in the development of tourism resources and plays a special role in terms of the integral regional geographical relief along with the Grand Tsangpo Canyon.

lakes

The abundance of lakes is a characteristic feature of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Against the background of mountains, blue sky, white clouds and green steppes, the lakes of Tibet look like brilliant stars of constellations, like interspersed sapphires. Namtso, Yamjo-yumtso, Mapam-yumtso, Bangongtso, Basuntso and other lakes are well known to tourists in China and abroad.

Tibet is not only China's largest lake region, but also a unique high mountain lake region in the world. There are 1500 large and hellish lakes in Tibet. The area occupied by lakes in Tibet is 24566 sq. km. kilometers, which is about 30% of the area of ​​all lakes in China. 787 lakes in Tibet have an area exceeding 1 sq. km. each.

Lakes in Tibet can be classified into runoff, inland, and runoff inland; according to the content of salts in water - into freshwater, brackish and salty; by type of origin - into geological lakes, glacial lakes and dammed lakes formed as a result of a jam on the path of river flow. Thus Tibetan lakes include all types of lakes found in China. Tibetan lakes are characterized by the transparency of the water, which allows you to see the bottom, a wonderful landscape environment in the form of snowy mountain peaks and lush meadows, an abundance of fish and waterfowl.

Islands on the lakes serve as a habitat for flocks of birds. Especially famous is the "bird island" on Lake Bangongtso in the Qiangtang steppe. In addition, in the northern part of the Tibetan Plateau there are about 400 salt lakes rich in mirabilite and table salt, as well as many rare earth elements. There are hot and warm lakes in Southern Tibet.

Tibet is characterized by the existence of a cult of lakes. The local population unshakably believes in the legends and traditions associated with the lakes. Three large lakes: Namtso, Mapam-yumtso and Yamjo-yumtso are considered "sacred" in Tibet.

Famous for its scenic views, Basuntso Lake is located in Gongbogyamda County, 90 km. from the county center Golinka, 120 km. from the village of Bai.

This alpine lake lies in the middle reaches of the Bahe River, the main tributary of the Niyan River. The height of the lake above sea level is 3538 meters, the length of the lake is 18 km, the average width is 1.5 km, the area of ​​the lake is 25.9 sq. km., depth 60 meters.

The water is clean and clear, the banks are overgrown with thick grass and shrubs. The view of the lake may well compete with the famous Swiss views. In summer and autumn, the shores of the lake are covered with a colorful flower outfit, a thick aroma spreads in the air, butterflies and bees circle over the flowers.

Bears, snow leopards, mountain goats, deer, musk deer, snow partridges are found in the surrounding forests.

In the center of the lake there is an island, which is a ridge formed after the sliding of an ancient glacier, and today you can see scratches left by the glacier on the stones of the island. On the island there is a monastery Tsozong belonging to the Nyigma sect and built in the 17th century. The locals consider the lake to be “sacred”, on the 15th day of the 4th month according to the Tibetan calendar, a traditional walk around the lake is arranged. There are glaciers in the upper reaches of the lake and nearby rivers, the lake and rivers feed on their water, and sometimes the tongue of the glacier slides into forest groves, forming ice glades among dense greenery. Today, in the lakeside, there is a summer cottage village where you can rent a house for the holidays. In 1997, Lake Basuntso was included by the World Tourism Organization in the list of recommended landscape places in the world, in 2001 it became a tourist area of ​​the state category "4A", in 2002 - a forest park of national importance.

Lake Namtso

Namtso - the most big lake Tibet, the highest of the major lakes in the world, the second largest mineralized lake in China. The lake is located on the border of Damshung (Lhasa) county and Baenggyong county of Nagchu district.

In Tibetan, "namtso" means "Heavenly Lake". The height of the lake above sea level is 4740 meters, the length of the lake is 70 km, the width is 30 km, the area is 1920 sq. km. The lake is fed by melting snow and ice on the Nengchentanglha Range. In the vicinity of the lake there are meadows with lush grass - the best natural pastures in Northern Tibet. Numerous species of wild animals are found here, including rare species. In the middle of the lake there are 5 small islands, in addition there are 5 peninsulas. The largest peninsula is the Zhasi Peninsula with an area of ​​10 sq. km. On the peninsula, there is a Zhasi monastery, karst grottoes, a stone grove, a “bridge” of karst origin and other attractions.

Every year, lake worship rituals are held on the lake, which attract believers from Tibet, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan. In the year of the Sheep, according to the Tibetan calendar, there are especially many pilgrims, the procession ceremony around the lake lasts 20-30 days.

Lake Yamjo-yumtso is 110 km away. southwest of Lhasa, within Nagardze County, Shannan Prefecture. The length of the lake from east to west is 130 km, the width is 70 km, the circumference of the lake is 250 km, the area is 638 sq. km., height above sea level 4441 meters, water depth 20-40 meters, in the deepest places 60 meters. This is the largest lake in the northern foothills of the Himalayas, it belongs to the inland lakes, it is fed by melting snows and the water in it has a salty taste. Lake Yamjo-yumtso is very picturesque, the water in it is transparent and clean, it is considered by the people as one of the three "sacred" lakes.

Lake Yamjo-yumtso is the largest rallying place for migratory birds in southern Tibet. During the laying season, bird eggs can be seen everywhere along the shores of the lake. Lefuyu (Schizopyge taliensis) and other fish species of the highland region are found in the lake. In total, fish resources are estimated at 800 thousand tons. Nowadays, fish farms have already appeared here, breeding valuable fish species.

In the vicinity of the lake there are meadows suitable for grazing. In the western part of the lake there is a peninsula where the houses of the villagers are in close contact with the meadows used for grazing. There are about a dozen small islands on the lake, the area of ​​the smallest island is barely 100 square meters. meters. A well-known product of Yamjo-yumtso Lake is dried meat.

Between Lake Yamjo-yumtso and the Tsangpo River, the Yamjo Pumping Hydroelectric Power Plant, the highest pumped hydroelectric power station in the world, was built. The height of the water fall is 800 meters, water is supplied to the station through a tunnel 600 meters long, 4 power generating units with a capacity of 90 thousand kW have been installed at the hydroelectric power station.

"Sacred Lake" Mapam-yumtso

Lake Mapam-yumtso is located in Burang County, more than 20 kilometers southeast of Mount Kangrinbtse and 200 kilometers or more from the village of Shiquanhe. Fresh water reserves in the lake are 20 billion cubic meters. So this lake is one of the few high mountain freshwater lakes in the world. The height of the lake above sea level is 4583 meters, the lake area is 412 sq. km. In the deepest places, the water depth reaches 70 meters. The water in the lake is distinguished by its purity and transparency; it is not for nothing that the Tibetans revere it as one of the three "sacred lakes".

In the manuscript of the Thai monk Xuan Zang, who traveled to India, the ofeepo Mapam-yumtso is referred to as the "Western Jasper Pond". In the 11th century, the Tibetan Buddhist sect triumphed over the Bon religion and, to commemorate this event, the lake called "Machuytso" was renamed Mapam-yumtso, which means "invincible" in Tibetan. Adherents of Lamaism believe that swimming in the lake cleanses from sinful thoughts and intentions, and if an ailing person drinks water from the lake, then his illness will recover very soon. The procession around the lake is considered a great blessing. Almost every season of the year, pilgrims come to the lake to drink healing water and take a bath. Together with the Kangrinbtse peak, Lake Mapam-yumtso constitutes a "sacred mountain and lake".

In summer, numerous flocks of swans fly to the vicinity of the lake, then the lake landscape becomes even more beautiful. In addition, according to popular belief, eating fish caught in the lake helps women become pregnant, facilitates difficult childbirth, and cures edema. Analysis of the water showed that it contains some valuable minerals.

Interestingly, not far away, just three kilometers from Lake Mapam-yumtso, there is Lake Langatso, nicknamed "devilish". The water in the lake is salty, storms often occur on the lake, there is almost no vegetation along the banks.

Lake Bangongtso

Bangongtso Lake, also known as Long-necked Cranes Lake, is a border lake. It lies to the north of the county town of Rutog, and its western part is within India. The name Bangongtso is of Indian origin, and in Tibetan the lake is called "Long-necked Cranes Lake".

The lake is 155 km long from east to west, 2-5 km wide, 15 km at its widest point, the lake is composed of three narrow lakes connected by channels, the area of ​​the lake is 593 sq. km., the height of the lake above sea level is 4242 meters, the maximum water depth is 57 meters. Most of the lake lies within China, and the water in this part of the lake is fresh, while in the part lying within Kashmir, the water is salty. But in terms of vegetation in the vicinity of the lake, the Kashmir coast is much richer than the coastal part of the lake on the Chinese side.

The attraction of Bangongtso Lake is the Lefuyu fish. In this species of fish, on the sides of the spawning hole and the hind fin, there are a number of large scale plates, so that it seems as if the belly of the fish is open to the outside. Hence the name "lefuyu" (fish with a cracked belly). This species has developed in the harsh climate of Tibet.

In the center of the lake there is an island 300 meters long and 200 meters wide, flocks of geese, gulls and other birds gather here - about 20 species in total. There is a bird din above the island, and when the flocks rise into the sky, it becomes difficult to distinguish the sun. In addition, there are ancient cultural monuments in the vicinity of the lake.

Lake Senlitso

Among Western scientists, it has long been believed that the highest lake in the world is Lake Titicaca (height 3812 m.), Lying on the border of Bolivia and Peru. And in Tibet, at least a thousand lakes lie at an altitude of 4,000 meters or more, including 17 lakes lie at an altitude of more than 5,000 meters.

According to the Academy of Sciences of the People's Republic of China, the highest lake in the world is the Tibetan Lake Senlitso (5386 m above sea level), which is located in Jongba County. This lake is freshwater and sewage, the water from it flows into the Tsangpo River, the lake lies in the permafrost region, where conditions are very harsh.

Alpine salt lakes

The number of salt lakes in Tibet far exceeds the number of freshwater ones. It was calculated that there are 250 salt lakes, that is, 25% of all lakes in Tibet. The total area of ​​salt lakes is 8 thousand square kilometers, 2.6% of the entire territory of the region.

Salt lakes have their own specific features and attract many travel enthusiasts. For example, Lake Chzhabuechaka, lying at an altitude of 4421 meters above sea level, has a size of 213 square kilometers, resembles a gourd in shape, North Lake stretches from the narrowest point to the north, and South Lake to the south. The southern lake is covered with a white crust of salt, in the northern lake there is still a layer of water 20-100 cm thick. To the west of the lake rises Mount Zhiagelyan (6364 m), the snow of which feeds the lake with melt water. Lake Zhabuechaka ranks first among the lakes of China in terms of borax reserves. In addition, the lake is rich in mirabilite, sodium carbonate, potassium, lithium and other elements. Lake Margochaka is also worthy of mention, the area of ​​which is 80 sq. km. The bottom of the lake is smooth as a mirror. There are many such salt lakes in Tibet; they contain rich resources of mineral salts. For example, the reserves of table salt in Lake Margaychak alone, with an area of ​​70 sq. km. enough to meet the salt needs of the Tibetan population for several tens of thousands of years.

In the vicinity of the lake there are meadows with lush grass, where numerous animal species live. On the islands and in coastal thickets, fresh water often leaks. There are excellent nesting sites for waterfowl.

Sources

Tibet, along with the provinces of Yunnan, Taiwan and Fujian, is a place rich in springs. Tibet ranks first in China in terms of geothermal energy reserves, 630 underground heat outlets have been discovered. Almost every county has a hot spring. The classification of types of hot springs includes more than 20 varieties. Only in Northern Tibet there are 300 large geothermal zones.

Most of the Tibetan springs have healing properties. From this point of view, they are of value to tourists and researchers, and in addition, they have great prospects for useful applications. Since ancient times, Tibetans have learned to use spring water against ailments and have accumulated rich experience. In the Lhasa region, the most popular is the Daejung warm spring within Maejokunggar County. The spring water contains sulfur and other substances useful for humans and effectively acts against various diseases. In spring and autumn, the force of water pressure in the source is minimal, but the concentration of minerals reaches its maximum value and during this period the effectiveness of treatment is the best. Most of those who have undergone treatment leave satisfied, it is no wonder that the Daezhong spring is very popular and many clients come to it.

In Shannan County, the warm springs are mainly concentrated in Woka, Sangri County, and around Zhegu Lake, within Tsomei County. There are 7 springs in Sangri County, including the Chjolok spring, which was used by the Dalai Lamas. According to legend, the water of the spring cures many diseases. The water of the Jiuyejunbangge spring, located north of the Zholok spring, cures stomach diseases, nearby there is the Pabu spring, whose water cures rheumatism, the Nima spring, whose water cures eye diseases, and the Banggae spring, whose water cures skin diseases. In spring and summer, many visitors come to these springs. In the vicinity of the city of Qiusong there is a well-known source of Seu.

Kanbu Spring in Yadong County is very famous. Its water is credited with the ability to cure many diseases. This source has 14 exits to the surface of the earth, and the temperature, chemical composition and healing properties of water in them are not the same. The spring water is said to help heal fractures, cure stomach ailments, arthritis, and skin diseases.

Springs in the Yamjo-yumtso Lake area are also popular. In the Junma area in the north of Nyima County, hot springs cover an area of ​​several hundred square meters. meters. All year round hot steam rises above the springs, and the water of the springs helps with arthritis and skin diseases.

There are also many hot springs in Chamdo with good quality water that has healing properties. For example, Wangmeika and Zuojik springs in Chamdo County, Yizhi Spring in Riwoche County, Rawu and Xyali Springs in Basheo County, Qiuzzyk Spring in Markam County, Qingni Cave Spring in Jiangda County, Buto Village Spring in Dengchen, Meiyu Spring in Dzogang, and other. In the Yanjing area of ​​Markam County, there are springs with a water temperature of 70 degrees Celsius, even the "coldest" springs have a temperature of 25 degrees. With the onset of spring, residents of the surrounding villages and even residents of Deqin County, Yunnan Province come here to take a bath.

In the small town of Yumei, through which we pass the route of the expedition to the Grand Canyon of Tsangpo, there is a hot spring gushing from a crevice among the stones. Its water flows into the river Parlung-tsangpo. There is a virgin forest around: pines, firs, nanmu, birches, cypresses, and under the trees there is lush grass and dense thickets of flowering rhododendron.

Yangbajen geothermal area is located in Damshung County, at the southern foot of Nengchentanglha Mountain, 90 km. northwest of Lhasa city. The Qinghai-Tibet Highway passes next to it.

The Yangbajen geothermal area is one of the largest exploited geothermal areas in the world. In China, this area was the first area economic use geothermal energy. The annual amount of energy released in the Yangbadzhen region is equal to the energy of 4.7 million tons of standard fuel.

The Yangbajeng geothermal power plant, the most powerful in China, operates on underground heat.

Even before the construction of the Yamjoyumtso Pumping Power Plant, the Yangbajen Geothermal Power Plant supplied Lhasa and the surrounding area with electricity.

By the end of 2000, 8 power generating units with a capacity of 25 thousand kW were installed at the Yangbadzhen power plant. 30 percent of the Lhasa electricity grid is generated here.

The Yangbadzhen geothermal region lies in a high-mountain pit and covers an area of ​​40 sq. km. All year round, hot springs supply water at a temperature of 70 degrees to the surface, which is why steam rises above the pit. Especially grandiose is the spouting geyser, reaching a height of at least 100 meters, its gurgling can be heard from five kilometers away. Against the background of the snowy peak of Nengchentanglha and green meadows, the beating white column of water and steam makes a strong impression.

In Yangbajen, a bathhouse and a swimming pool are equipped at an altitude of 4200 meters, the water of the springs cures stomach, kidney, skin diseases, arthritis, paralysis of the limbs and other ailments. In the near future, hot water sources will be used for other purposes: heating houses, heating greenhouses and fish ponds. To the east of the Yangbajeng geothermal area lies the largest hot lake in China with an area of ​​7300 square meters, a bathhouse and a swimming pool are equipped on its shore. There is a group of effervescent springs in the village of Qucai in Ningzhong Volost, the water temperature reaches 125.5 degrees. In 1998, a wellness center was built here.

Dagejia Geothermal Region

The Dagejiang geysers are the largest pulsating geysers in China. They are located on the southern spur of the Gangdis Mountains, in the western part of Ngamring County. The release of water by geysers is irregular, as is the duration of their action. Some geysers gush for 10 minutes, and some only for a few seconds. Usually, the ejection of a fountain of water is preceded by a pulsation of water jets at a low level, then an underground roar similar to a thunderous rumble is heard and a column of water and steam beats from the source, reaching a diameter of 2 meters and a height of 200 meters. But now the water column, having scattered as rain, goes underground again and the surface of the source takes on its former form.

Exploding Geyser Qupu

Qupu, located on the southeastern shore of Lake Mapam Yumtso, has a unique exploding geyser. During the action of the geyser, a thunderous rumble is heard, a mixture of hot water and steam escapes from the ground, raising a column of dirt and rock. After the end of the explosion, deep funnel-shaped tubes remain in the ground. One day in November 1975, a geyser exploded. Frightened by the peals of thunder, the grazing flocks of sheep and herds of cows fled in all directions. The steam column reached 900 meters in height, the stones thrown out during the explosion were scattered far over a kilometer.

Pulsating springs in the Bagashan mountains

50 km. to the northwest of Golinka, the administrative center of Gongbogyamda county, there is a landscape area of ​​the Nyanpugou gorge, in its upper reaches three gorges converge: Jiaxingou, Yangvogou and Buzhugou. In Buzhugou gorge there is a karst cave (4200 meters above sea level) and cascading three groups of warm springs, the water of which flows into the river flowing along the bottom of the cave. Centuries-old pines and cypresses grow all around. In the Yangwogou Gorge, northwest of the Nyanpugou Gorge, there is a Bagasy monastery (Gelugba sect), and at the foot of the mountain there is a warm spring that works exactly like clockwork: water appears in it 6 times a day.

waterfalls

In the eastern and southwestern parts of Tibet, in the gorges of the southeastern and northeastern mountains, there are many waterfalls.

There are so many waterfalls in Lingzhi County that it is difficult to quantify them.

The largest waterfall is the Medogsky waterfall, the height of the water fall of which exceeds 400 meters.

First of all, 4 groups of waterfalls in the Grand Canyon of Tsangpo should be mentioned. In the 20 km section from Xixingla to Zhaqu, where the Parlung Tsangpo tributary flows into the Tsangpo, the gorge makes many sharp bends, the slope of this section is 23 degrees, at its narrowest point, the width of the river, sandwiched by sheer cliffs, is only 35 meters , the difference in water level in high water and shallow water is 21 meters. It is these features of the relief that caused the emergence of many large and small waterfalls here.

The Zhongzha group of waterfalls is located on the Tsangpo River, 6 km away. from the confluence of the tributary Parlung-tsangpo, at an altitude of 1680 meters. The waterfall cascade has 7 steps, the largest distance between two steps is 30 meters. The width of the waterfall is 50 meters. On a plot of 200 meters, the total height of the water fall is 100 meters. There is an incessant rumble around the waterfall, its spray spreads far across the neighborhood. In the Manbai language, "zhongzha" means "gorge root".

The Qiugudulun Waterfalls are located on the Tsangpo River, 14.6 km away. from the confluence of the Parlung-tsangpo at an altitude of 1890 meters. The maximum relative height of the water fall is 15 meters, the width of the waterfall is 40 meters. On the site of Tsangpo 600 meters below and above the waterfall, 3 waterfalls 2-4 meters high and 5 rapids were found. From a sheer cliff along the southern shore of the Tsangpo, where the main waterfall of the Qiugudulun group is located, a waterfall falls, its width is only 1 meter, but its height is 50 meters.

Badun waterfalls are located on the Tsangpo River, where it is surrounded by the Sisinla Mountains, which is about 20 km. from the confluence of the Parlung-tsangpo tributary into the Tsangpo. The height of the waterfall above sea level is 2140 meters. In total, on a plot of 600 meters there are two groups of waterfalls, the height of one of them is 35 meters (width 35 meters), and the height of the other group is 33 meters. Together, both groups form the largest waterfall cascade on Tsangpo. The largest waterfall in Lingzhi County is the 400-meter-high Hanmi Falls. The uppermost cascade of the waterfall flows directly from the snowy mountains going into the sky, in the second cascade step the waterfall expands, at first the stream slows down, flowing between forest thickets, and when it reaches the cliff, it breaks down with great force, the lowest step of the cascade is a huge boulder that changes flow direction. At the end of the path, the waterfall flows into the Dosyunlahe River, forming numerous deep whirlpools.

Climate

The best time of the year in terms of a tourist trip in Tibet are the months from March to October, and the most favorable time- the period from June to September.

Tibet is characterized by a great difference in the climate of different regions, unique natural phenomena associated with the action of wind, clouds, rain, hoarfrost and fog, as well as unusually remarkable sunrises and sunsets.

The special climate of Tibet is due to the peculiarities of its relief and atmospheric circulation. The general trend is a dry and cold climate in the northwestern part of the region and a humid warm climate in its southeastern part. In addition, the regularity in the change of climatic zones along the height of the relief clearly makes itself felt.

The main features of the Tibetan climate are rarefied air, low atmospheric pressure, low oxygen content in the atmosphere, low dust content and air humidity, the air is very clean and rarefied, the atmosphere is highly permeable to radiation and sunlight. At a temperature of zero Celsius, the density of the atmosphere at sea level is 1292 grams per cubic meter, the standard atmospheric pressure is 1013.2 millibars. In Lhasa (3650 m.), the density of the atmosphere is 810 grams per cubic meter, the average annual atmospheric pressure is 652 millibars. If on the plain the oxygen content in a cubic meter of air is 250-260 grams, then in the highlands of Tibet it is only 150-170 grams, that is, 62-65.4% of the plain.

Tibet is an area that has no equal in China in terms of the intensity of solar radiation. Here this intensity is twice or at least one third greater than in the plain regions lying at the same latitude. Tibet also ranks first in terms of sundial in a year. In Lhasa, there are 19,500 kilocalories of solar energy per square meter per year, which is equivalent to the energy of burning 230-260 kg. equivalent fuel, there are 3021 hours of solar insolation per year. No wonder Lhasa is called the "city of the sun." Powerful solar radiation caused a high intensity of ultraviolet radiation, which (for wavelengths less than 400 millimicrons) is 2.3 times stronger than the intensity on the plain. Therefore, many pathogenic bacteria are almost absent in Tibet, and Tibetans have almost no skin diseases and infection due to injuries.

The average air temperature in Tibet is lower than in the flat regions lying at the same latitude, the temperature difference in different seasons is also small. But in Tibet, there are significant diurnal temperature fluctuations between day and night. In Lhasa and Shigatse, the difference between the temperature of the hottest month and the average annual temperature is 10-15 degrees Celsius lower than in Chongqing, Wuhan and Shanghai at the same latitude. And the average value of daily temperature fluctuations is 14-16 degrees. In Ngari, Nagchu and other places in August, the daytime air temperature reaches 10 degrees, and at night it drops to zero and below, so that during the night the rivers and lakes are covered with a film of ice. In June, in Lhasa and Shigatse at noon, the maximum temperature reaches 27-29 degrees, the real summer heat is felt outside. But in the evening, the temperature drops so that people feel the autumn coolness, and at midnight the temperature can drop to 0-5 degrees, so that in summer people sleep under quilts. The next morning, when the sun rises, it becomes as warm as spring again. In northern Tibet, the average annual temperature lies below zero, there are only two seasons: cold and warm, but there is no concept of four seasons. Northern Tibet is the coldest place in China in terms of average temperature during the summer season. In many places in Tibet, snow falls in July, and rivers freeze in August. The golden season is the time from June to September, when the daytime temperature is 7-12 degrees, the maximum temperature reaches 20 degrees. After rain, the temperature usually drops to 10 degrees and below, at night the temperature is even lower. Adapting to the sharp diurnal fluctuations in air temperature, the Tibetans wear an outer jacket during the day, when it is warm, putting on only one sleeve, leaving the other empty, and putting on both sleeves in the mornings and evenings.

The rainy season occurs in different places at different times, but the distinction between dry and rainy seasons is very clear. Moreover, Tibet is characterized by rainfall mainly at night. The annual rainfall in the most low-lying regions of southeastern Tibet is 5000 mm, as you move northwest it gradually decreases and finally reaches only 50 mm. Between October and April of the following year, 10-20% of the annual precipitation falls, in May the rainy season begins, which lasts until September. At this time, 90% of the annual rainfall falls. The rainy season in April May first comes to the counties of Zayu and Me dog, gradually the rain front captures Lhasa and Shigatse, in July it rains all over Tibet, in the last ten days of September and the first ten days of October the rainy season ends. With regard to the predominant nighttime rainfall, approximately 60% of the rains (in Lhasa 85%, in Shigatse 82%) fall at night. This is the peculiarity of the Tibetan climate. However, in the southeastern part of Tibet and in the Himalayas, nighttime rains account for about half of all precipitation.

Tibet is one of the regions of China where plant and animal resources are richly represented. The classification of plant and animal belts includes cold, temperate, subtropical and tropical zones.

Vegetation

If you take a look at the map of Tibet, then from the southeast to the northwest, belts of forests, meadows, steppes and deserts will emerge. Bioresources are extremely rich. They form an important part of tourism resources.

The richest natural botanical garden

Due to the abundance of plant species, Tibet deserves the title of a natural botanical garden; its gene bank of seed material can serve as a cast from the flora of all Asia.

Particularly rich in plant resources are Jilong, Yadong and Zham in Western Tibet, Medog, Zayu and Loyu in Eastern Tibet. But even in Northern Tibet, where the climate is much more severe, there are more than 100 plant species. At an altitude above 4200 meters in the belt of alpine shrubs and herbs, there are many plants that bloom with bright colors, such as rhododendrons and primroses. During the flowering season, the slopes of the mountains are covered with a bright carpet of flowers.

Medog and Chayu on the southern spur of the Himalayas were called "Tibetan Jiangnan" and "Tibetan Xishuanbanna". Below 1200 meters there are monsoon and rain forests, where vines, wild bananas, Japanese bananas, coffee trees (two species were found) and other species typical of the tropics and subtropics grow. At an altitude of 2500-3200 m in the Tsangpo valley, on an area of ​​about a thousand square kilometers, thickets of an endangered yew species were found.

China's largest forest area

In Tibet, forests have been preserved intact. At an altitude of 1200-3200 m, subtropical evergreen forests grow, including coniferous and mixed ones. At an altitude of 3200-4200 m, mainly coniferous forests (spruce, fir) grow, here you can find almost all types of conifers of the Northern Hemisphere - from tropical to cold zones. The main species are spruce, fir, hemlock, pine (scotch, highland, Yunnan), Himalayan spruce, Himalayan fir, yew, Tibetan larch, Tibetan cypress and juniper. In addition, deciduous species grow: cotton tree, alpine maple, poplar, birch. Spruce, fir and hemlock forests occupy 48% of the total forested area of ​​Tibet and 61% of timber reserves of similar forests in Tibet. These forests are distributed mainly on the slopes of the Himalayas, Nengchentanglha and Hengduan Shan. Square pine forests in Tibet is 9260 million sq.m. Species: longleaf pine and white-stemmed pine are declared protected.

According to the data of the 4th nationwide survey, Tibet ranks 4th among the provinces of China in terms of forest cover ratio, and ranks 1st in terms of timber reserves. The afforestation rate in the counties of Zayu, Menling, Bomi exceeds 90%. Having visited these places, you can really get an idea of ​​the "forest sea". Tibetan forests are characterized by rapid growth that persists for a long time, and large reserves of timber per unit area. So in Bomi County, on one hectare of spruce forest, there are more than 2000 cubic meters "of forest on the vine. This is a record figure in the world. Some trees reach a height of 80 meters, their diameter at chest level is 2 meters. In a spruce forest 200 years old, the average diameter of trees trunks at chest level is 92 cm, height 57 meters.

Individual specimens reach a height of 80 m, a diameter of 2.5 m. One such tree can produce 60 cubic meters of wood.

The world's largest region of alpine vegetation belts

The Tibetan Plateau is the largest area in the world in terms of size, where high-mountain plant belts changing in height are represented. At an altitude of more than 4200 m, in places of alpine meadows and on the gentle slopes of river valleys, cushion lichens and mosses can be found, the height of which does not exceed 10 cm. species of 15 families of 11 classes. The most common are tinder fungus, cushion lichen from the primrose family, saxifrage, sosurrey, etc. Cushion lichen has a tree-like structure, due to which it has a high density, density and rigidity. One such plant looks like an open umbrella and is so strong that it does not even give in to a shovel.

Grasslands and steppes occupy two-thirds of the territory of Tibet and 23% of all the steppe and meadow resources of China. The main regions of the steppes and meadows are the Ngari district and the North Tibetan gobi. Alpine meadows rank first in terms of area, followed by alpine meadows and steppes, semi-marshy steppes, shrub steppes and meadows in forests. The main types of steppe vegetation are cereals and syt (sedge family). The productivity of fodder grasses is low, but the quality is excellent; in terms of the content of coarse proteins, Tibetan fodder grasses are superior to Mongolian ones.

medicinal plants

About 5 thousand plant species grow in Tibet, of which a thousand species are plants of technical and economic importance. There are also about 1,000 species of medicinal plants, including more than 400 widely used species. Saffron, Saussurea, whorled hazel grouse, Chinese coptis, ephedra, gastrodia, pinnatifid ginura, small-haired codonopsis, large-leaved gentian, multi-rhizome sage, lingzhi mushroom, milettia net - only a small part of them. Of the 200 species of mushrooms examined, tricholoma, hutou (Hericium erinaceus), zhangzi (Sarcodon imbricatus), common mushrooms, black tree fungus, white tree fungus (Tremella fuciforus), yellow tree fungus (auricularia) and others are edible. Medicinal mushrooms are also harvested: fulin, songanlan, leiwan. Tibet ranks first among the provinces of China in terms of the size of preparations of the medicinal fungus cordyceps chinensis (which has a tonic effect on the functioning of the lungs and kidneys). Tibet occupies one of the first places in China in harvesting such medicinal plants as hazel grouse and Chinese koptis.

The interest and use of medicinal plants in Tibet has a long history. The herbal book, compiled in 1835 by Dimar Danzeng Pentso, contains information about 1006 biospecies. Many medicinal plants grow almost exclusively on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The efficacy and specificity of Tibetan medicinal plants is of increasing interest in domestic and foreign circles. Scientists set out to develop new types of drugs with a special effect.

Animal world of Tibet

A variety of natural conditions created the background against which the animal world, richly represented in Tibet, developed. The rich world of wild animals has added a lot of charm to tourist trips in Tibet.

Wild animals

There are 125 species of protected valuable animal species registered in Tibet, accounting for one third of all protected species in China. Among them are the long-tailed monkey, Yunnan golden monkey, macaque, deer (Tibetan red deer, maral, white-lipped deer), wild yak, ibex, leopard, leopard, Himalayan bear, civet cat, wild cat, badger, red panda, musk deer, takin, Tibetan antelope, wild ass, mountain sheep, goats, fox, wolf, lynx, jackal, etc. Among them are the Tibetan antelope, yak, wild donkey and mountain sheep - species found only in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. All of them are included in the list of animals protected by the state. The white-lipped deer is found only in China and belongs to rare species of world importance. Of the birds, the black-necked crane and the Tibetan pheasant are protected. The number of especially valuable 34 species is 900 thousand. For example, there are 10 thousand heads of wild yaks, 50-60 thousand wild donkeys, 40-60 thousand Tibetan antelopes, 160-200 thousand heads of saigas, 2-3 thousand heads of takins, 570-650 specimens of Yunnan golden monkeys, 5-10 Bangladeshi tigers . In addition, the population of bears, leopards, wild deer, goats, valuable species of birds and high-mountain fish “lefuyu” has been registered.

Tibet is one of the few regions of the world where the pristine ecology is well preserved. A truly unique natural zoo! In the north of Tibet, there is a shbi (Qiangtang) with an area of ​​​​400 thousand square meters. km. This is the habitat of many rare animal species.

White-lipped deer

The white-lipped deer belongs to the 1st category of animal species protected in China. It lives at an altitude of over 4000 m above sea level. Usually found in areas where red deer live, but their herds do not mix. There is already a white-lipped deer farm in Chamdo County.

Tibetan antelope

The Tibetan antelope is a protected species, its body is covered with light brown hair, and its chest, belly and legs are white. The head of the male is crowned with black horns 60-70 cm long. If you look in profile, it seems that both horns have merged into one, therefore this species is also called the unicorn deer.

The body shape of the antelope is distinguished by great grace, it runs at speeds up to 100 km. per hour, so that it is difficult even for wolves to catch up with her.

The antelope loves river valleys and lakeside places with lush grass.

Antelope antlers are medicinal raw materials, and wool enjoys a high rating in the world markets for textile raw materials. It is no wonder that this animal is the subject of poaching, which the Chinese administration is resolutely fighting.

wild donkey

Wild ass - kulan belongs to the 1st category of protected animals. The body of the kulan is covered with light brown hair, a black stripe runs along the ridge, the belly and popliteal parts of the legs are white. It seems as if white stockings are on the legs of the kulan. Kulans are strong animals with well-developed muscles, capable of running long distances. Their herds have a leader and observe great organization. The view of a herd of kulans rushing across the steppe is an impressive picture. When running, kulans develop a speed comparable to the speed of a jeep. The running herds of kulans can be observed while driving along the Heihe-Ngari road. Kulans are herd animals, they live in families of 8-20 individuals, but sometimes you can meet herds of several dozen animals.

wild yak

The yak belongs to the 1st category of protected animals; in terms of its size, it has no equal in the animal world of Tibet. The body length of a wild yak reaches 3 meters, which is much longer compared to a domestic yak. Yak horns are arched. In harsh natural conditions, great endurance and vitality of yaks were formed. They easily overcome steep mountain slopes, rivers, ice and snow drifts.

The body of the yak is covered with black thick long hair, the hair on the belly descends right to the ground and, when walking, the yak sways like the hem of a dokha. The wool covering the body of a wild yak is 3.4 times thicker than that of a domestic yak, so the wild yak is not afraid of frosts of 40 degrees. The wild yak has three types of protective devices: these are its hooves, horns and tongue. Yaks live in herds of 30 individuals, but there are herds of 300 heads.

black-necked crane

The black-necked crane belongs to the 1st category of protected animal species. This is the only one of the 15 species of cranes known in the world that lives on a high mountain plateau. By the rarity of its occurrence, it is equated to a giant panda. In China, it is declared an endangered species, and is also listed in the Red Book of World Endangered Species. The Black-necked Crane is a beautiful slender bird of great decorative value, has a quiet disposition, lives in lakeside and river wetlands. However, it breeds poorly, the survival rate of offspring is low. To protect the black-necked cranes, a 14,000 square km marshland reserve has been established, which is located in the vicinity of Sidingtso Lake in Shenza County, Nagchu County. Black-necked cranes have also been found in Lingzhub County near Lhasa.

Snow Leopard

It belongs to the 1st category of protected wild animals. The skin is spotted: black specks on a light gray background. Body length 1 meter, weight 100-150 kg. The head is like a cat's. The leopard is swift in movement and attacks goats, foxes, hares, partridges, etc. The skin is highly valued.

Tibetan partridge

The Tibetan partridge belongs to the 2nd category of protected birds. The tail feathers resemble a horse's tail, which is why this species is also called "horse pheasant". There are blue and white types of pheasants. However, both species have tails of blue color with a satin sheen. The plumage on the head and legs is red, the eye sockets look like two small suns, the ear feathers are long and stand erect. Nestlings love insect food, while adult birds prefer young leaves, shoots, grass seeds and other plant foods.

Pets

Domestic animals of Tibet include yaks, biannu (a cross between a cow and a yak), sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, mules, pigs, brown cows, chickens, ducks, rabbits, etc. Pastoralism makes up half of Tibet's economic potential.

Tibet is one of the 5 most important pastoral regions in China. There are 22.66 million heads of livestock, 9 thousand tons of sheep wool, 1400 tons of bull and sheep fleece, 4 million pieces of sheep and bull skins are produced annually. Tibetan dog breeds are also of interest to tourists.

Yak - a ship on a plateau

The yak is one of the most important domestic animal species in Tibet. In total, there are more than 14 million heads in the world. Most of the yaks are descended from the Tibetan high plateau or from the surrounding areas, lying at an altitude of more than 3000 m. China accounts for about 85% of the total number of yaks in the world.

Yaks are unpretentious to feed, hardy, have great physical strength and are well controlled.

The coat on the belly and limbs is thick and soft. Possessing strong teeth, the yak consumes even roughage. He has a strong heart, strong, albeit short legs, mobile lips and tongue. In climbing on the mountain slopes, the yak is not inferior to mountain goats. In a word, the yak is well adapted to life in the harsh conditions of the high plateau.

The yak is used as an important vehicle, it is called the "ship on the plateau". In terms of the height to which the yak is able to reach, it has no equal among animals.

In addition to being used as a draft and vehicle, yak meat is eaten. It is rich in protein, highly nutritious, and also has a good taste. For example, the Xianggan and the Tuo people highly value yak meat, placing it above the meat of other artiodactyls. Yach's milk can be drunk directly, and besides, melted butter is prepared from it - the main type of fat on the plateau and casein for technical purposes. Yak skins are used to make everyday clothes, and besides, yak skins are an important raw material for the leather industry. Yak manure is used to fertilize the fields and, when dried, serves as household fuel. From yak skins, in addition, boats are sewn for crossing rivers. Ropes made from yak wool are strong, resilient and durable. Mats woven from yak wool are used to make durable, rainproof and easily rollable tents for Tibetans. Yak wool also serves as a raw material for high-quality cloth, even the tail whisk of the yak has found use: it serves as a whisk for shaking off dust. Panicles of white yak tails are especially valued, they are usually exported.

The breed of dog - the mastiff, which lives in the Tibetan Shito - is the highest mountainous type of dog in the world. The body length of an adult mastiff is more than a meter, weight is several tens of kg., The whole body is covered with thick long hair, so that the mastiff looks like a small yak. The head of the mastiff is large, the legs are short, the muzzle is flat with a wide nose, it has a delicate scent, emits a jerky bass bark, the mastiff's temper is warlike and ferocious, but in relation to the owner he is very devoted and understands his plan well.

The mastiff is used mainly to guard herds and flocks. Mastiff can effectively guard a flock of 200 sheep, although for this he has to run a total of 40 km per day. Mastiff is not afraid of frost, can sleep in the snow at a temperature of minus 30-40 degrees. Unlike other herding dogs, the Tibetan mastiff does without meat food, it feeds mainly on skimmed yak milk, to which tsangmba is added.

pocket dog

The pocket dog (palace or prayer dog) is one of the ancient best Tibetan dog breeds, it was kept by the living Buddhas of the monasteries, the aristocrats of Tibet and even the Qing imperial court. Now the pure breed of such a dog is rare, so its price has risen a lot.

The height of the dog is 25 cm, sometimes more than 10 cm, weight -4-6 kg, sometimes less than a kilogram. The dog has short and developed limbs, large eyes and a slightly upturned tail, a pocket dog with golden hair is very much appreciated. The Tibetan lapdog is also very popular.

Protected natural areas

The creation of protected natural areas (PAs) is an important undertaking by the Tibetan administration in the field of maintaining the ecological balance, this work has unfolded over the past three decades and today has already been marked by encouraging success. In the 70s of the 20th century, the administration of the TAR increased the allocations for the protection of wild fauna and flora, the habitats of rare animals were fenced off and a ban on hunting was announced. In the 1980s, work began on establishing the boundaries of protected areas. In 1985-1988 The regional government approved 7 protected and protected areas: Medog, Dzayu, Gansyan (Bomt), Bajie (Lingzhi), Zhamgou Reserve (Nelam), Jiangcun (Jilong) and the Chomolungma Peak Nature Protection Zone. Of these, the Medogsky and Chomolungmasky protected areas were included in the lists of protected areas of national importance. In 1991, the Tibetan Society for the Protection of Wild Animals was established. In 1993, the second group of reserves was approved - 6 in total, including: Qiangtan (for the protection of wild yaks, antelopes and wild asses), Markam (for the protection of golden monkeys), Shenza (for the protection of black-necked cranes), Dongju in Lingzhi (for the protection deer) and Rivochesky (for the protection of the red deer). Now in Tibet there were 13 protected areas of regional and state significance. The total area of ​​these territories amounted to 325.8 thousand square kilometers, 26.5% of the territory of the Tibet Autonomous Region and about half of the area of ​​all Chinese protected areas.

In China, protected natural areas (PAs) are classified into three categories and 9 uses. PNA of the 1st category protect the untouched ecological system, this category includes 5 types of PNA: for the protection of forests, steppes and meadows, deserts, swamps, ocean and coastal ecology. Category 2 includes protected areas for the protection of wild fauna and flora. This includes 2 types of PNA: for the protection of wild animals and PNA for the protection of plant species. The 3rd category includes protected areas for the protection of ancient relics, which includes two types of protected areas: for the protection of a special geological landscape and protected areas for the protection of biological relics. At present, the number of protected animal and plant species is 164, including 16 species of particular importance, 40 biospecies are unique, found only in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and in the region of Chomolungma Peak.

In 1993, this protected area was included in the list of state protected areas. It is located in the area of ​​the Chinese-Nepalese state border and covers an area of ​​33.81 billion square meters. m., 70 thousand people live on its territory (1994). The territory of the protected area is divided into a number of separate protected areas; 7 of them: Tolong Gorge, Zhongxia, Xuebugang, Jiangcun, Kuntang, Chomolungma Peak and Shishabangma Peak are specially protected, 5 others: Zhentan, Nelam, Jilong, Kuntang, etc. belong to areas of research significance.

If the peak of Chomolungma is a snow-ice kingdom, where there are many glaciers, then a completely different picture is observed at the foot of the peak. Here, along the southern slope, all plant belts from the tropics to the temperate and cold zones are located. There are forests, meadows, pastures.

In a section of several tens of kilometers horizontally, the height of the slope is more than 6 thousand meters, so the difference in vertical biospecies is clearly visible. In total, from evergreen forests at the foot of the peak to eternal snows at the top, 7 plant belts are distinguished.

On the southern slope of the Himalayan mountains at an altitude of 3000 meters within the OPT there is the Kama Gorge, which is called "one of the 10 landscape sights of the world." The gorge stretches from east to west for 55 kilometers, its width from south to north is 8 kilometers, and its area is 440 sq. km. 2101 species of angiosperms, 20 species of gymnosperms, 200 species of ferns, more than 600 species of mosses and lichens, 130 species of mushrooms grow in the Chomolungmas PNA. The fauna is represented by 53 species of animals, 206 species of birds, 20 species of reptiles, reptiles and fish. Among them are animals belonging to the protected species of the 1st category: long-tailed monkeys, Tibetan wild ass, mountain sheep, leopard, snow leopard, black pheasant. The image of a leopard serves as the emblem of the Chomolungma OPT. Himalayan fir, larch, clumsy birch, juniper, bamboo, mountain maple, spruce, Nepalese sandal tree, magnolia, straight-stemmed pine, rhododendron and other species grow in the forests of the reserve. There is also a long-pistil magnolia - valuable decorative look, medicinal plants ginura pinnatifid, Chinese koptis, etc.

Wormwood grows at an altitude of 3800-4500 m. Above 5500-6000 m there is a strip of eternal snow. The largest glacier of Chomolungma is the Zhongbu glacier.

qiantang nature reserve

Qiangtang Nature Reserve is located in Nagchu County, on the slopes of Shengza, Nyima and the Two Lakes Region, covering an area of ​​367,000 square meters. km., ranks second in size in the world after the Greenland State Park.

And among the reserves for the protection of wild animals, it is in size in 1st place in China and the world.

In 1993, the government of the TAR officially approved the creation of the Qiangtan Nature Reserve with an area of ​​247 thousand square kilometers. Later, the interested departments of Tibet, based on the survey, proposed a project to expand the protected area. In April 2000, the Chinese government officially announced the establishment of the State Qiangtang Protected natural area, the area of ​​which was increased by 120 thousand sq. km. against the original.

The Qiangtang Reserve is divided into two regions - the Shenza Marsh Reserve, covering the lakeside of the lakes of Silingtso and Gyaringtso with a total area of ​​40 thousand square kilometers. This is the so-called South Qiangtan Nature Reserve, where numerous species of waterfowl live. Another area is the Northern Qiangtan Desert Fauna Reserve, located in the zone of cold climate and harsh nature. The southern border of this region is the Zhajia-tsashtu and Bogtsang-tsangpo rivers. Within this area are places that are completely uninhabited, and places where the pristine ecology and populations of wild animals have largely been preserved.

The North Qiangtan Desert Flora Reserve, located in the very center of perhaps the most unique and still undisturbed ecological system world, gives an excellent insight into the ecology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. First of all, the fragility of the ecological balance is striking, the violation of the ecological balance of biological populations can result in irreparable consequences. Therefore, it is very important to maintain this ecological balance.

Antelopes, yaks, kulans, black-necked cranes, leopards, argali live in the reserve - about 100 species of valuable animals in total. Among them there are endangered species and species protected by the state of the 1st category. This reserve is actually a unique natural zoo. Here is a wide field of activity for researchers involved in the study of ecology, habits, lifestyle and reproduction of animals, their genetic mechanism, as well as applied and scientific value. It is likely that the study of the adaptation of animals to the conditions of the desert gobi will help people to better understand the mechanism for preventing and overcoming the high mountain reaction and the ailments associated with it.

The North Qiangtan Nature Reserve is the highest and largest nature reserve in the world for the protection of pristine ecology. It is three times larger than the famous American reserves, 4 times larger than Africa's largest Tanzanian reserve.

Tsangpo Grand Canyon State Reserve

This reserve is located in the southeastern part of Tibet, 400 km. from Lhasa. It was originally called Medogsky Reserve, in April 2000 it was officially renamed the State Reserve of the Grand Canyon Tsangpo. The territory of the reserve is 9620 million square meters. m., population - 14.9 thousand people. The unique relief and natural conditions have created an environment for the habitat of many biospecies, so the reserve fully justifies its fame as the "kingdom of animals and plants." Of the plant species, yew, mahil, lingzhi, and wild orchids have become widespread. Of the animal species, mention should be made of the tiger, leopard, bear, musk deer, red panda, long-tailed monkey, otter, antelope, etc. 3,768 species of plants, 512 species of mosses and lichens, and 686 species of mushrooms grow here. The fauna is represented by 63 species of mammals, 25 species of reptiles, 19 species of amphibians, 232 species of birds and over 2,000 species of insects.

Adjacent to the Himalayan mountain system, the canyon is influenced by humid winds blowing from the Indian Ocean, which has led to the tropical and subtropical nature of the local climate and vegetation. On the slope of the summit, one can trace the change of 8 vegetation belts. This example of changing vegetation belts at different heights is unique in China in its completeness and clarity.

Scientists have also proven that the area of ​​the Grand Canyon Tsangpo is the place where the richest species are represented. It is a "natural botanical museum", "a collection of genetic resources of biospecies". It is also interesting that the area of ​​the Grand Canyon Tsangpo is located at the northeastern tip of the border between the Indian Platform and the Eurasian Platform and therefore is exceptionally rich in various kinds of geological phenomena, it can be called a “natural geological museum”.

The Grand Canyon of Tsangpo is unique in its richness and diversity of natural scenery and natural resources. It is the most valuable natural asset of China, as well as the most valuable natural asset of the world. The local mountains and forests are still very poorly explored and are an excellent subject for tourist observations, photographic surveys and scientific research.

The first association that arises with the nature of Tibet is the mountains, the Himalayas, the top of the world. And yes, they are majestic, they are beautiful, I will never forget the feeling when I first saw Everest from the window of an airplane, or rather, its peak, hovering above the clouds. It didn’t fit in my head, how it was, but some people stood with their feet in the sky!

And I sincerely admire those who decided on this adventure, although I consider them exactly as crazy. I will definitely write about Everest a little further, but I want to start with the lakes.
I was not embarrassed by the fact that the map of Tibet is full of blue spots, and somehow I was especially struck by the following, which opened my eyes already on approaching the Lhasa airport. The lakes here are absolutely amazing - huge, of an unearthly deep color, and each one is completely special.

The first lake, the water of which had a chance to wash - Yamdrok Tso, it was the very beginning of the expedition, when we passed our first five thousandth pass, and descended a little to a height of 4650 meters.
Also called Yamjo Yumtso, the turquoise lake, it is believed that it constantly changes its color, and its shades cannot be seen twice. I am very inclined to agree with this legend.
And no lens, no matter how hard the photographer tries, will convey this depth and richness of colors. The lake is considered sacred, Koru also walk around it, and according to legend, if it dries up, then life in Tibet will disappear. On one of the banks of Yamdrok Tso is the only monastery in the country where the abbess is a woman.

The next lake, on the shore of which we lived, and in which even some desperate women swam (I confess, I limited myself to getting my feet wet) is Manasarovar.
The legendary "living" lake in which Parvati lives, the wife of Shiva, and from where we first saw Kailash.
It is said that the water from it washes away sins.
Buddhists drink it, and Hindus prefer to bathe.
One of the most famous monasteries, Chiu Gompa, rises above the lake; Padmasambhava spent some time here in meditation.

Nearby is the second no less sacred lake - Rakshas Tal, "dead".
It is considered as such due to the fact that in its waters there are neither fish nor algae, but all because of the high content of silver. According to legend, the lake was created by the leader of the Rakshasas, the demon Ravana, and on an island in the middle of the lake he sacrificed his heads to Shiva every day, when he had one head left, Shiva took pity and rewarded him with superpowers.
The place is considered important for the Tantrics, as a very strong energy center.
Ablutions in the lake are performed in order to leave everything old in it and reset to zero, but you can’t drink water, supposedly you will be poisoned. Well, legends are legends, but for some reason I wanted to take a sip of water here. Firstly, it was not poisoned, and secondly, it is delicious. And I decided for myself that in this way I kill my fears and worries with dead water, in the end, we create all our beliefs ourselves.

Between the lakes there is a natural channel 10 kilometers long, and when it is filled with water, it is believed that there is a balance throughout the world. As you understand, this natural phenomenon has not been observed for a long time.

We passed another large lake - Peiku Tso on the way to the Everest base camp.
Yes, by the way, on the shores of all lakes you can often find such pyramids of stones. They are folded locally so that the soul of the dead, while it is in purgatory, feels good, or something like that.

Well, in the end, I can’t help but show what, probably, all climbers strive for in their souls - the roof of the world. Somewhere near the village of Tingri there are several observation platforms that offer a view of Everest and the nearby eight-thousanders.
Seeing the sunrise there is priceless! And yes, Shiva and Buddha clearly favored us, because they showed all the mountains, even those clouds that strove to close them at some moments dispersed in a matter of minutes.
And the last point, after which we began to descend, was the base camp of Everest.
They say that it is especially beautiful from the side of Tibet, of course, to be convinced of this, you need to take another look at it from the side of Nepal. September is not the season, and the camp is empty, so we could see enough and shoot this great mountain from all angles available to us.
And yes, it is breathtaking, and you understand how insignificant you, a person, are in comparison with nature.
And just tears well up from the realization that you at least a little managed to touch this legend, well, let's not touch, but at least look with your own eyes, and not in photographs. That morning, one of us uttered the key phrase:
Moments like this are worth living for.

• Read: Asia

Tibet: physical geography, nature, people

Tibet is the largest, highest and youngest mountain plateau in the world. Therefore, Tibet is called the "roof of the world" and the "third pole".

Geographically, Tibet can be divided into three main regions - east, north and south. The eastern part is a wooded area that occupies approximately one quarter of the territory. Virgin forests stretch across this part of Tibet. The northern part is open plains where nomads graze yaks and sheep. This part occupies about half of Tibet. The southern and central part is an agricultural region that occupies about one-fourth of the land area of ​​Tibet. With all major Tibetan cities and towns such as Lhasa, Shigatse, Gyantse located in the Tsetang region, this region is considered the cultural center of Tibet. The total area of ​​the Tibet Autonomous Region is 1,200,000 square kilometers and the population is 1,890,000 people.

The number one mountain peak on Earth is Mount Everest, which is 8,848.13 meters high. This is a silver peak that sends out a silvery glow year after year. Its narrowest part is hidden in the clouds. Among the 14 peaks, whose height is more than 8,000 meters, 5 are located on the territory of Tibet. In addition to Everest, these are the peaks of Luozi, Makalu, Zhuoayou, Xixiabangma and Nanjiabawa, which constantly compete with Everest for the championship in height.

Many people have a misconception about the nature of Tibet as a permanently snowy land. Its old name - "land of snow" - is the name by which it is actually known throughout the world and which gives an idea of ​​the country as a territory of almost permafrost with barely perceptible signs of life. In fact, this is how it is, but only in areas located in Ima, Tisi and the like. This Mountain chain, which covered almost the entire country, and its high peaks, to the bluest skies, are covered with snow.

In other flat areas, in fact, it only snows a few times a year, and due to the constant very bright sunlight during the day, it is not cold there even in the most severe winters. Tibet is so sunny that there are more than 3,000 hours of constant sunshine throughout the year.

Tibet is full of rivers and lakes, the densely overgrown banks of which are home to numerous swans, geese and ducks.

The Yaluzangbu River is 2,057 km long and consists of continuous twists and turns, winding like a silver dragon from west to east into the valleys of southern Tibet, and then flows into the Indian Ocean.

Three rivers flow in the east of Tibet: Gold Sand, Lancang and the Nu River. They all flow from north to south, to Yunnan Province. This area is popular due to the beautiful scenery of Hengduan Mountain.

Holy Lake or Lake Manasovara is located 30 km southeast of Mount Holi. Its area is about 400 square kilometers. Buddhists believe that the lake is a gift from Heaven. Holy water can cure all kinds of diseases, and if you wash yourself with it, then all their worries and worries are washed away from people. Pilgrimages are even made to the lake, after walking around the lake and taking a bath in turn at the four gates, the cleansing of sins takes place and the gods grant you happiness. The great monk Xuan Zhuang called this lake the "Holy Lake in Western Heaven".

The area of ​​another Yangzongyong lake is 638 square meters. km, and the length of the coastline is 250 km. The deepest place is at a depth of 60 meters. The lake has more natural food for fish. It is estimated that the lake has a fish stock of approximately 300 million kg. That is why this lake is called the "fish treasure of Tibet". Many water birds live in its open spaces and along the banks.

Lake Namu area - 1940 sq. km, it is the second largest lake with salt water. On the surface of the island rise 3 islands, which are the ideal habitat for all kinds of aquatic life.

Tibet is a mysterious land of ancient Buddhist monasteries. The great rivers of Southeast Asia originate in its mountains. The longest and deepest gorge in the world, Dihang, the place where the Brahmaputra breaks through the Himalayas, is recognized as a true miracle. On the border of Nepal and Tibet, the highest peak of the planet Chomolungma (“Divine Mother of the Earth”) rises to the skies, or in European Everest (8848 meters).

Tibet - description and detailed information

Tibet is a historical region. In 1965, on a significant part of its territory, the Chinese authorities created the Tibet Autonomous Region, incorporating its outlying lands into several Chinese provinces. Tibet is located on the slightly hilly or flat plains of the Tibetan Plateau, which is surrounded by the Himalayan range in the south and the Kunlun mountains in the north.

The entire territory between these natural boundaries is collected in frequent folds of relatively short ridges of a latitudinal direction with a height of more than 6000 meters (Trans-Himalayas, Tangla). In the east, the ridged waves of the mountains gently bend to the south. Countless hollows and valleys cut by rivers are squeezed between mountain ranges. Below all is the valley of the Brahmaputra River (3000 meters), where almost all the agriculture of Tibet is concentrated, although there are also insignificant agricultural lands along the banks of the eastern rivers.

Composed of granites and gneisses, the Tibetan Plateau - the most extensive and high mountain plateau in the world - rose from the bowels of the earth as a result of intensive processes of alpine orogeny.

At the same time, the mountain systems of the Himalayas and Kunlun were formed. The average height of the highlands is 4000 - 5000 meters, although there is no shortage of seven-thousander peaks.

Thanks to summer monsoons bringing moisture from Pacific Ocean This region is rich in vegetation. Fresh and salty lakes formed in the mountain depressions, the largest of which are Nam-Tso, Siling-Tso, Ngandze-Tso and Tongra-yum-Tso. However, as we move to the west, the lakes become less and less, the river network becomes less and less, and the landscape begins to be dominated by stone screes and deserts, devoid of any vegetation.

Many of the great rivers of Southeast Asia, including the Yangtze, the Mekong, the Salween, the Indus, and the Brahmaputra, originate in the snow-covered mountains of Tibet. Small rivers, not having the strength to break through the mountains, feed numerous lakes with their waters. The sources of the Mekong and Salween are in Southeast Tibet.

The Brahmaputra River originates near the western tip of Nepal and runs from west to east for about 1200 km, supplying almost the entire population of Tibet with fresh water. From time immemorial, a road has been running along its banks, connecting the local cities and villages.

The population of Tibet is small - only about 2.3 million people live in its vast territory. The main administrative, religious center and the largest city of the region is Lhasa. Small industrial enterprises are concentrated in the towns of Shigatse, Nyangtse and Chamdo. The northern part of the region is the least populated.

The main occupations of the Tibetans are grazing and agriculture. Wheat, barley, corn, tobacco and vegetables are grown in the river valleys. Goats, sheep and yaks are bred everywhere, which are widely used as pack and draft cattle in the highlands.

Tibet lies in an area of ​​extremely dry subtropical continental climate with a pronounced vertical gradation of climatic zones.

The average January temperature ranges from 0 degrees C in the south to -10 degrees C in the north; July - from +5 to +18 degrees C. In Lhasa, located at an altitude of 3630 meters, thermometers during the day show from +7 degrees C to -8 degrees C. There is little precipitation. The southwest monsoons, which bring heavy downpours to India, are unable to overcome the high Himalayan ranges.

The entire territory of Tibet is dominated by meager tundra, steppe and desert vegetation; forests grow only in river valleys. Above 6000 meters the zone of eternal snows and glaciers begins.

Until 1950, Tibet was, in fact, an independent state, but the communists who came to power in China after the 1949 revolution decided that it was an integral part of the PRC. In October 1950, Chinese troops entered Tibet under the pretext of helping the country advance "on the path of progress."

The Chinese rule Tibet, but not the souls of its inhabitants.

Culturally, especially since the spread of Buddhism in these parts (XI-XIV centuries), Tibetans are much more closely connected with India, having adopted from her all the achievements of ancient spiritual culture - from writing, art and architecture to science and philosophy. Of all the elements that make up the national identity of the Tibetans, the main place is occupied by their original religion.

Buddhism came to Tibet in the 7th century - its traditions were brought with them by 33 wives of King Srontszen Gampo, one of whom was a Nepalese princess and the other a Chinese princess. By the 11th-12th centuries, thanks to the efforts of immigrants from India, the position of Buddhism in Tibet was significantly strengthened - large monasteries grew everywhere, not only becoming centers of learning and education, but also securing the right to spiritual leadership in Tibet (in Europe, the Tibetan version of Buddhism is usually called Lamaism).

The oldest religion of the Tibetans was Bon, which was a bizarre combination of shamanic magic and animism. The adherents of this cult called themselves "bon-po". The meaning of the word "bon" is not fully understood. According to some scholars, it meant a shamanic spell, mumbling magical formulas. In some places, this religion has survived to this day, but in a modified form, having absorbed many elements of Buddhism.

The supreme deity of Bon is revered by the merciful Kun-tu-bzang-po - the lord of heaven, earth and underworld, who created the universe from slime, and living beings from an egg. Other deities obey him: the lord of chaos in the form of a blue eagle, 18 male and female deities of wildlife and a myriad of minor gods - half-human half-beasts with wings, heads and torsos of wolves, snakes or pigs.

The ancient Tibetans believed in spirits and demons that lived in mountains, lakes, rivers, hollow trees, or rocks. High in the mountains and today you can see stone mounds (lartsze) - mute witnesses of the cult of the mountains. In the 17th century, lamas from the Drepung Monastery near Lhasa introduced a theocratic system of government headed by the Dalai Lama ("dalai" - "immeasurable ocean").

The current XIV Dalai Lama remains the ruler of Tibet for his compatriots, wherever he is. The long-time exile Dalai Lama has been waging a relentless struggle for the freedom, rights and dignity of his people, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. The Panchen Lama is the second spiritual leader of Tibet after the Dalai Lama. In 1950, the 10th Panchen Lama was only 12 years old. At first, he supported Beijing and enjoyed the goodwill of the Chinese authorities, but in the 1960s he published a list of Chinese crimes in Tibet and publicly expressed the hope of gaining independence, for which he landed in prison for 14 years.

Until his death in 1989, the Panchen Lama fought to the best of his ability to preserve the culture and nature of Tibet. The Dalai Lama recognized him as the new incarnation of the six-year-old Gedun Cheki Nyima, but a few days later the boy and his parents disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and the Chinese put the Panchen Lama on the throne of their own choice. The greatest shrine of Tibet is the Jokhang, the first Buddhist temple, founded in 641.

At the entrance to the temple, a stone obelisk of the 9th century rises in memory of the treaty of good neighborliness concluded in those ancient times. The inscription on it reads: “Tibet and China retain those lands and borders that they currently own. Everything to the east is China, and everything to the west is beyond doubt the land of the great Tibet. None of the parties will go to war with each other and will not seize other people's lands.

Today, this inscription sounds like a dream and a cherished aspiration of all Tibetans. Back in the 1950s, there were about 600,000 monks and over 6,000 monasteries in Tibet, which were the true centers of Tibetan culture. The temples kept golden statues, ancient paintings and many other precious relics. Libraries were also located here, in which, along with sacred texts, treatises on medicine, astrology and politics were carefully stored.

The vast high-mountainous country, consisting of the highest ranges and peaks of the Pamirs, Tibet and the Himalayas on the planet, is rightfully considered the "roof of the world." It is located on the territory of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Burma.

The attitude of the XIV Dalai Lama towards other religions is built on the basis of complete religious tolerance. He calls for a broad dialogue and joint search for solutions to the problems facing humanity. His Holiness is highly respected throughout the world as an outstanding spiritual leader and statesman.

The sky-high plateau of the Tibetan Plateau is surrounded from the south by the highest mountains of the planet - the Himalayas, and from the north - by the harsh Kunlun mountains. In ancient times, all the most important trade routes of the Asian continent bypassed this inaccessible region.

Tibet is one of the most mysterious and inaccessible places on the planet. Secluded Buddhist monasteries rise high in the mountains. Above all (at an altitude of 4980 meters) is the Rongphu Monastery. The fact that life in Tibet flows along a special channel prescribed by the authorities, tourists will learn when they have to obtain permission to enter and travel only along permitted routes under the watchful eye of a guide.

The residence of the Dalai Lama was the Potala Palace in the sacred city of Tibet - Lhasa. Today, desolation reigns in the prayer and throne rooms of the palace. A café has been set up in the council hall of the Tibetan government, and a Chinese flag is flying on the roof of the palace. Lhasa became a typical communist city with wide streets, monuments at crossroads and a parade ground in front of the Potala Palace.

Old houses and narrow shady streets disappeared without a trace. Over the past 30 years, the population of the city has grown several times. A mantra is a prayer-spell, which is a special magical set of syllables. Tibetans believe that the constant repetition - and if possible, the inscription - of mantras can release the energy hidden in them. The most famous mantra "Om mani padme hum" has become a kind of creed in Lamaism.

The sign "om" is an ancient Indian reference to the Supreme Being. "Mani" means in Sanskrit "diamond, gem”, “padme” - “in the lotus”, and “hum” - the call of power. The symbolism of these simple words is truly enormous. The lotus is associated primarily with depth - it reaches for the light from the watery depths to bloom on the surface as a beautiful flower.

The opening flower symbolizes the transition from the invisible world to the visible world, and mani is a diamond that collects huge energy in itself and fills the kingdom of the lotus with it. Stupa (Sanskrit "top, hill") is a Buddhist religious building, standing alone or part of the temple complex and designed to store relics, Buddha figurines and sacred texts.

Pilgrims who come to venerate holy places rotate prayer wheels. In some temples, the diameter of such drums reaches 2 meters, and they can be scrolled only by the efforts of several people.

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It turned out a whole essay about Tibet, which is popularly called Brother - and here is another great video about Tibet: