Karez

Karez irrigation system in Tulufan, Xinjiang province, China.
A vast and ancient underground network of water channels feeds the town and fields, creating a lush oasis.
This water allows the native Uyghur people to grow crops (notably grapes).
The system involves hand-dug wells and underground channels designed to store the water and control the flow. Vertical well shafts dug at regular access points tap into the water flow from distant mountain springs.
Tulufan is located in the second deepest geographical depression in the world.
The climate is dry with temperatures ranging from -20c in the winter to +50c in the summer (it was +46c on the day this film was made!)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• karez
• turpan
• tulufan
• uyghur
• uighur
• water
• irrigation
• xinjiang
• china
• oil
• desert
• qanat

[Hindukaash]

In Afghanistan we still have thousands of Karezes. There are many other thousands of years old. Many of them were destroyed by Arabs, the Changezkhan.

[margot980]

Karezes were first built in Persia around 4000 years ago. The idea travelled the silk road.

They provided not only water and irrigation, but air conditioning to homes in very hot, dry areas. Cooling by evaorating water. Nothing to plug in.

Interesting to see raisin drying "towers". The ones recently blown up by NATO in southern Afghanistan were, I think, more effective than those shown here.

Shade-dried raisins were about income and dignity and pride.

A terrible shame.

[Pantekin]

thankyou!

[deborahmcneely]

Superb story Astral Jester! Survival methods vital to all our lives and the trouble that sometimes visits paradise, so woefully challenging now for all of us. Sincerely, Auntie Deb