reminds me...
Posted on 11/30/2007 11:31:21 AM PST by SunkenCiv
An ancient oasis in destitute Gansu province along the historic Silk Road, Dunhuang is in danger of being swallowed by the sands of the adjacent Kumtag desert, which are creeping closer at a rate of up to 13 feet a year... The problem stems from centuries of unsustainable grazing and farming practices and overuse of already slim and strained water resources. The government has attempted to blunt the spread through reforestation, incentives and other means... Once a welcome oasis for Silk Road travelers thanks to an ancient store of groundwater, Dunhuang is drying up. [page 2] The water table in the city of 100,000 has dropped 39 feet since 1975 and is still falling as city growth strains the water supply, according to official figures... Sandstorms -- higher in number and intensity -- also have accelerated the deterioration of the 1,000-year-old Buddhist frescoes at Dunhuang's Mogao caves, one of China's great historical sites and a growing tourist draw for the traditionally agrarian community. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called recently for renewed efforts to prevent Dunhuang becoming "a second Loulan," referring to another Silk Road stop further west that was swallowed by the desert in the last century.
(Excerpt) Read more at dsc.discovery.com ...
Okay Fred. From the time marked on this post. The program comes on 1.5 hours from now.
The cure for desertification is even more gov’t planning.
I’ll have to wait until the disk comes out. Thanks!
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/ET/popup/200712022100.html
Explorer: China’s Secret Mummies [TV-G Ratings N/A]
Sunday, December 2, 2007, at 09P
In a remote Chinese desert, archaeologists have unearthed mummies that are thousands of years old and completely misplaced in this part of the world. These mysterious mummies are Caucasian, with European facial features, including some that had blond hair and blue eyes. Where did they come from? Dr. Spencer Wells, National Geographic explorer-in-residence, goes on a mission to use advanced technology to decode the genetic identity of of these unusually well-preserved mummies.
Laughing here, You could just about write a book on this subject Yourself. Just wanting to bump the thread, for any that may have missed it.
Mystery Mummy (National Geographic, 9:00PM EST tonight - Ancient Caucasian Mummies Found In China)
Yeah, I pinged it, thanks.
Might have known.
Some strange looking places.
“Some strange looking places.”
http://www.delange.org/Default/Mexico/Mexico.htm
http://www.delange.org/Cholula/Cholula.htm
http://www.delange.org/Cholula2/Cholula2.htm
(file from David Derrick files)
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