Karezis an urban water system adapted by the Turpan people. It is made up of a horizontal series of vertically dug wells that are linked by underground canals to collect water from the watershed surface runoff from Tianshan Mountain and the nearby Flaming Mountains. The canals are mostly underground to reduce evaporation and to make the slope long enough to reach far distances. The system was crucial in Turpan's development as an important oasis stopover on the ancient Silk Road skirting the barren and hostile Taklamakan Desert. Turpan owes its prosperity to the water provided by its karezwell system. [Photo/IC]
Copyright©2024 China Daily. All rights reserved.
京ICP备13028878号-6
京公网安备 11010502032503号