Crescent Lake and the Mogao Caves of Dunhuang

Nature has created many wonder around the world. But there are places in the world that are not only astounding but one is awe stricken to find these in desolateness of deserts. One of these many strange wonders is the Crescent Lake in the treacherous and inaccessible Gobi Desert of China.

The Crescent Lake with the huge dunes of Echoing Mountain in the background [ Photo: qantsi / Flickr ]

I first came to know of this strange natural wonder recently when a friend sent me the photo of the place and wondered if I knew it where it was. And I have been looking for it since then and then another friend told me about and then I looked for more resource/references to build up this post.

This Crescent shaped lake is unique in the world in a sense that it is surrounded by huge sand dunes and a place where rain fall is almost non existant, availabaility of clear blue water is certainly a rarity.

Location of  Dunhuang city  in the Gobi Desert, China 

The lake called Yueyaquan, pronounced 'Pinyin' is located in a unique desert oasis about 6 kilometers south of the historic Silk Days Dunhuang city in the treacherous Gobi Desert in Gansu Province, China. Dunhuang was for more than two thousand years a crucial entrance in to China, located on the famous Silk Route.  Travelers followed a string of oases, skirting around the unforgiving sands of the Gobi and Taklamakan Desert.

One may wonder how this water has been here when it is stark desert all around. Many are of the view, that the water erupts from the desert surface because of the under surface springs that in itself is a unique natural phenomenon.

The Crescent Lake Satellite view with the background slopes of the Echoing Mountain [ Photo: Google Earth ]

As per Wikipedia, the lake had a depth of 4-5 metres with a maximum depth of 7.5 meters in 1960. However, to help the people of the area, a dam was built on the Dang River which skirted the city of Dunhuang in the 1970s. Due to the stoppage of the water in the dam, which otherwise facilitated the irrigation and the resultant increase in population from 100,000 to almost 180,000, the water table in the area started to sink. This had an adverse effect on the this tiny lake, which also started to shrink and by early 1990s, the total area of the lake had shrunk to 1.37 acres with an average depth of 0.9 meters.

The Crescent Lake and the Ancient Han Dynasty style Pagoda [ Photo: Wikipedia ]

However since 2006, with the efforts of the local government and help of the central government, the lake has been filled artificially to restore its depth - and the results have been encouraging and the lake is showing signs of growth.

Crescent Lake surrounded by the Echoing Mountain [Photo Credit: sdelahoyde ]

Due to the huge dunes of the Echoing Mountain on both sides of the lake, the blowing sands do not pollute the water of the lake and it remains as fresh and green as any fresh water lake elsewhere. And the lake water has never been buried under the sand, which in itself is a geological wonder.

Now a word about the Echoing Sand Mountains or the Mingsha Shan in local language - these huge sand dunes are famous for the sounds the wind makes when blowing over the dunes. The dunes with their rolling ridges reach up to height of 250 meters are relatively stable despite the fact that the dunes beyond the mountains shift frequently. Which is why the Oaisis and the Crescent Lake is preserved for the last 2000 years or even more.

The Crescent Lake is now part of the World Heritage under the auspices of the UN and has become a tourist attraction for those who dare to go to the extremely hot and treacherous Gobi Desert of China to witness this unique natural wonder.

Mogao Caves [ Photo credit: Brett Davenport's Travel Blog ]

Those who finally make up to Dunhuang would be amazed to find the Mogao Caves, located some 25 kilometres from Dunhuang city on the eastern slopes of the Echoing Mountains. Mogao means high up in the desert.

The cliffs rise above the Dachuan River, which is 25 km south-east of the Dunhuang oasis. Within the cliffs are the 492 natural cells and rock sanctuaries extending over 1,600 metres.

One of the countless Mogao cave carvings [ Photo Credit: Travel China Guide ]

According to Tang Dynasty records, a monk had witnessed onsite a vision of thousand Buddhas under showers of golden rays. Thus inspired, he started the caves construction work that spanned ten dynasties. Mogao Caves are, therefore, commonly known as the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas.

Watch the video below of the interior of the Mogao caves and sculptures therein:

The Mogao Cave Sculptures / Interior [ Video Credit: Daibusshi / YouTube ]

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Amazing Natural Wonders: Sand Covered Pacific Ocean

Nature is full of surprises for the man. But when a sea is covered with sand and volcanic stones, it is a sight that leaves those lucky ones out there fishing or sailing awe stricken with a rare and lifetime opportunity to see the wonder of the nature.

Follow the photos and commentary from those on board a yacht traveling in the south Pacific when the crew came across a weird sight. Look at these photos and try to imagine the thrill of experiencing this phenomenon.

A BEACH?



NO!!!!This is not a beach;



it is volcanic stones floating on the water.



WHERE IS THE VOLCANO?



UNBELIEVEABLE SITE SO TAKE PICTURES

NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE IT



THE WAKE OF MY SHIP



STAY ON THE EDGE OF THE WATER 

then this was spotted -  ash and steam rising from the ocean..



And, while WE were watching...



A plume of black ash...HUGE CLOUD.

COVERING RED EVEN THIS FAR AWAY



THEN THE SKY TURNS BLACK WITH ASH

AND THE OCEAN GOLD WITH SUNS REFLECTION



OUT OF THE OCEAN MOUNTAIN PEAKS ARISE?



MORE ERUPTIONS ASH AND CLOUDS



THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS RISE HIGHER WITHIN MINUTES



A brand new island formed...



CREATION OF MOUNTAINS

Can you imagine the thrill of being the first & only people to see a new island being created where there was nothing before?

Shared from: Funzug

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The World's seven wonders of nature

Full Story: Yahoo News

Having known the famous Seven Wonders of the World for year, now there is an attempt to name the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. A global poll lists the following as the Seven Wonders of the Nature:

1. The Amazon rain forest
2. Vietnam's Halong Bay
3. Argentina's Iguazu Falls
4. South Korea's Jeju Island
5. Indonesia's Komodo
6. The Philippines' Puerto Princesa Underground River
7. South Africa's Table Mountain.

For more on these wonder and their photos read full report by Yahoo News.

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10 Unique Natural Treasures

The world is replete with natural wonders that attract the attention of the tourists from around the globe. Pakistan is one of those gifted countries which have features and wonders that the Nature has gifted it. These unique wonders are spread from the seashore of the Arabian Sea to the snow capped towering mountains up in the north.

Herein under are some of the most unique features that are one of their own kind in the world of nature that one would be fascinated to visit if one happens to be in Pakistan.

K-2

K-2 , the biggest pyramid like feature in the world: Located in the Karakorum mountain range up in the north of Pakistan, the 28,251 feet high K-2 or the Mt Godwin Austen or Chogori (in local Balti language) is not only the second highest peak of the world after Mt Everest, this pyramid shaped natural feature of the world. Visible from far distance, even when flying in the aircraft, K-2 is also considered as the Savage Mountain since it is more difficult to climb than Mt Everest. 

Panoramic view of the Trango Towers

Trango Towers – the sheerest verticals of the world: Located in the Karakorum mountain range and part of the Trango Massif, these bare and unique verticals reaching out to 6,286 meters (20,608 feet), are the world’s most sheer verticals and rock features. These verticals are located across the famous Baltoro Glacier attract mountaineers from across the globe to scale these awesome rock verticals. The Trango Massif is surrounded by the K-2, the Gasherbrums and the Broad Peak (all above 8,000 metres). 

Nanga Parbat

Eight thousanders: There are fourteen peaks in the world that are above 8,000 metres and are known as the Eight Thousanders. Of these fourteen peaks, five are located in Pakistan. These include the K-2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum-I, the Broad Peak and the Gasherbrum-II. 

Deosai Plains and the Brown Bears

Deosai Plains and its extinct Brown Bears: Spread over an area of some 3,000 kilometers, the Desoai Plateau is the second highest plateau after the Tibetan Plateau in the world. The endless and awesome Deosai Plains are located at the boundary of the Karakorum and West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe. Located in the Gilgit Baltistan region of Pakistan, the plains at an average height of 4,114 metres above mean sea level are rich in flora and fauna of its very own kind. 

Princess of Hope

Princess of Hope: This beautiful naturally carved feature resembles a woman standing gazing at distant horizon clad in a royal gown and hood is located in the Balochistan province of Pakistan along the coast of Arabian Sea. The name of Princess of Hope was given to this feature by Hollywood star actress Angelina Jolie, who is also the UN ambassador of goodwill when she visited Pakistan. 

Pakistani Sphinx

Pakistani Sphinx: This natural feature, located close to the Princess of Hope feature, resembles very closely with the Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt. 

Mud Volcanoes

Mud Volcanoes: Balochistan coastline along the Arabian Sea is an area rich in natural trove and unbelievable features. Mud Volcanoes stretched along the coastline between Karachi and Ormara are class of their own. The biggest crater has a diameter of 450 feet. 

Juniper Tree

Juniper Forests: The Juniper forests located near the town of Ziarat in Balochistan are the the second largest Juniper forests in the world after the Junipers of California, some as old as 57000 years. 

Extinct snow leopard

Snow Leopards: Pakistan is among few lucky countries where snow leopards can be found high up in the snow bound areas of its northern region, specially in Khunjrab (bordering China). They are found at altitudes varying between 3,000 and 5,500 metres. 

Blind Indus Dolphin

Blind Dolphin of Indus: We often see Dolphins dancing and jumping near the ships in the movies, and in Titanic too. The look full of life, friendly, jovial and extremely sporty - may be because they can see. But there is species of the Dolphins that cannot see – they are virtually blind and unlike the seas, they are found in the Indus River in Pakistan. In local language it is called “Susu.” 

Read more about these unique treasures at Pakistapaedia

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The Moses Miracle

We all know the famous parting of the sea when Moses chased by the mighty armies of the Pharaoh raised his walking stick above his head and prayed to the almighty to save them from the wrath of Pharaohs. And the sea parted for the Israelis to go to the other end unharmed. Well that was long ago and can only be witnessed in the motion picture “The Ten Commandments.”

But there is no dearth of miracles of the nature. There now exists a living miracle that reminds us of the historical parting of the sea. South Korea, far away from the Biblical lands, is home to a spectacular miracle, which remained unknown to the world till as recently as 1975 when Pierre Randi, French Ambassador in Korea, himself came to the island of Jindo to confirm the news and told the world about it.

At Jindo, this rare phenomenon occurs twice a year in the months of May and June. The sea between the islands of Jindo and Modo islands splits and creates a corridor of some 2.8 kilometres long and forty metres wide for about an hour and allows people, tourists and locals to walk “walk over” the sea and reach the other island. Amazing!!

Like all such natural phenomenon, there is a folklore attached to this miracle as well. According to the belief, the island of Jindo was once attacked by hungry and ferocious tigers. The Jindos fled the island except one old lady. Out of fear and despair, she pleaded the gods for her safety. And like the prayers of Moses which were answered by the Almighty, the Sea God helped paved the way for the old lady to safely reach the island of Modo before tigers could reach her.

Now the place is a venue of annual festivities when people all over from South Korea and tourists from around the world gather here to actually walk over the sea like the people of Moses did in biblical times.

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