When we think of Lop Nur, we always think of the words no man's land, desolation, and harsh climate, and it was bombed by the mainland with nuclear weapons 45 times at that time, and it is estimated that it has long been gone
But that's just our stereotype.
Today's Lop Nur is no longer what it used to be, and the "Sea of Death" has long since become the "Sea of Life"!
How is this done? What is the scene of Lop Nur today?
The text states that all the content has reliable sources of information, which are repeated in the article at the end of the article.
Some details are artistically processed, please pay attention to screening
Lop Nur's past and present lives
Lop Nur, once China's second-largest inland lake, is now a barren Gobi. Its history dates back 18 million years and has gone through a long period of time from prosperity to decline.
In ancient times, Lop Nur was a sparkling lake with an area of more than 20,000 square kilometers. It is located at the lowest point of the Tarim Basin and is surrounded by the Kunlun Mountains, the Tien Shan Mountains and the Altun Mountains.
The snowmelt from these mountains flows into a river that flows into Lop Nur, making it one of the most important lakes in the ancient Tarim Basin.
The geographical location of Lop Nur is unique and important. It is located at the throat of the Silk Road and is the hub of the intersection of Eastern and Western civilizations.
In ancient times, caravans and travelers often stopped here to replenish their water and rest their overall strength. The lush vegetation along the lakeside provides shelter and nourishes the surrounding oasis.
During the Han Dynasty, the ancient kingdom of Loulan was established around Lop Nur. This mysterious country thrives on the waters of the lake and becomes the pearl of the Western Regions. However, over time, Lop Nur's fortunes began to change.
Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, Lop Nur has faced a water crisis. Natural changes in the river channel and climate change have led to a gradual decrease in the lake's water.
Although the ancients tried to divert water to rescue them many times, they could not resist the forces of nature.
As the amount of water decreases, the environment around Lop Nur gradually deteriorates. The oases began to shrink and the vegetation gradually withered.
By the end of the Qing Dynasty, Lop Nur had shrunk into a small lake. Although briefly restored to more than 2,000 square kilometers in the early 20th century, this recovery did not last long.
In the mid-20th century, human activities dealt a fatal blow to Lop Nur. Large-scale agricultural development and the construction of water conservancy projects have led to a drastic reduction in the amount of water injected into Lop Nur.
In 1962, the lower reaches of the Tarim River were cut off, and Lop Nur dried up completely.
Since then, Lop Nur has completely turned into a desert, and it can even be said that it has become a part of the Taklamakan Desert.
What was once an oasis of abundant water and grass has become a barren land with no grass. The bare saline ground at the bottom of the lake shimmered in the sunlight like a dead ocean.
Found in satellite imagery of Lop Nur in the United States
In 1972 United States NASA released a satellite image of Lop Nur.
This image shows a dry lake bed in the shape of a human ear, which not only shows the current situation of Lop Nur, but also arouses the interest of domestic scientists.
After careful study, experts speculated that the Lop Nur area may contain abundant potash resources. The speculation got everyone excited.
In fact, as early as 10 years ago, when geologist Pengamu was investigating the outskirts of Lop Nur, he found that the rivers flowing into the area had unusually high levels of potassium. He estimated that Lop Nur could accumulate 750,000 tonnes of potassium per year, a surprising figure.
Subsequently, China's first remote sensing satellite, Dongfanghong-1, was successfully launched, which provided key support for the research.
Remote sensing images sent back from satellites show extremely high levels of potassium radiation in the Lop Nur area, further confirming the existence of potash resources.
This discovery was of great significance to China in the 60s of the 20th century. At that time, more than 90% of China's potash was imported, which severely constrained agricultural development.
In the sixties and seventies of the last century, the import of fertilizer equipment alone cost 600 million US dollars, accounting for nearly one-third of the total imports that year. The shortage of potash has become a "bottleneck" problem restricting China's agricultural development.
The discovery of potash resources in Lop Nur has brought hope for solving this dilemma. It is not only expected to ease China's dependence on imported potash, but may also provide strong support for China's agricultural development.
In order to obtain more potash resources, Chinese scientists have carried out a series of studies.
A difficult path of discovery
In 1980, Pengamu led an expedition of 11 people into Lop Nur. The goal of the famous biochemist's trip was to find potash resources.
The team struggled to move forward on the vast Gobi, and every step was full of challenges.
The scorching sun scorched the earth, the temperature reached 50°C, and the car had to stop to cool down after 10 minutes of driving. The nights can be bitterly cold, even with a heavy fur coat.
The expedition team overcame many difficulties and finally successfully crossed the lake basin and reached the south shore on June 5. It was supposed to be a moment of triumph, but Pengamu decided to go deeper.
Ten days later, the team arrived at Kumkuduk, only to find that they were running out of supplies. Pengamu immediately sent a distress signal to the base camp.
On June 17, just as rescue was about to arrive, the unexpected happened. Pengamu left a note: "I'll go east to find a well" and left the camp alone.
Since then, the brave scientist has never returned. Despite the massive search and rescue efforts, Pengamu's whereabouts remain an unsolved mystery.
Pengamu's disappearance casts a deeper shadow over Lop Nur. However, the search for potash did not end there. Sixteen years later, a female scientist named Wang Yili took over the task.
Wang Yili is a graduate of the Department of Geochemistry at Peking University. She gave up her comfortable job in Beijing and chose a grueling career in the field.
After years of research, Wang believes that Lop Nur contains abundant potash resources.
In 1995, Wang Yili applied to his superiors to enter Lop Nur for inspection. The proposal was initially opposed, with leaders fearing a repeat of Pengamu's mistakes, but Wang's insistence eventually convinced them.
In 1996, 55-year-old Wang led an expedition to Lop Nur. They drove several second-hand trucks and carried rudimentary equipment to this unknown desert.
The expedition soon ran into difficulties. There are no roads or references in the vast Gobi, and if you don't pay attention, you will lose your way.
Wang Yili came up with a solution: arrange a team member to stand every 100 meters to form a human "signpost". In this way, they slowly but surely pushed towards the goal.
After six days and six nights of arduous trekking, the expedition finally arrived at the intended location. They immediately began drilling. When the drill bit was just 1.2 meters underground, a miracle happened – a large amount of salt minerals gushed out.
Wang Yili excitedly instructed the team to continue drilling. Soon, a stream of crystal clear liquid gushed out.
Wang Yili dipped a little of her finger in the tip of her tongue, and the salty and spicy taste made her excited. She knew they had found the potash brine they had been dreaming of.
Subsequent tests confirmed that the potassium chloride content was as high as 1.58%, far exceeding industrial mining standards. This discovery made the entire expedition rejoice. They know that they have found a great treasure for their country.
In the following years, Wang led the team into Lop Nur several times to conduct more detailed exploration.
Their efforts culminated in a startling fact: Lop Nur contains more than 250 million tonnes of liquid potash deposits covering an area of 1,344 square kilometers and a potential economic value of up to 500 billion yuan.
This discovery has almost fundamentally solved the mainland's long-standing dilemma of relying on imports of potash fertilizer, and what was once a "sea of death" has now become a "source of life" that nourishes hundreds of millions of Chinese.
The story of Peng Jiamu and Wang Yili shows the spirit of Chinese scientists who are not afraid of hardships and dangers and dedicate themselves to the country.
With their wisdom and courage, they have written a magnificent chapter in this barren land and made indelible contributions to China's development.
Expedition results and historical significance
In the desert of Lop Nur, once known as the "Sea of Death", the unremitting efforts of Chinese scientists have finally paid off.
After years of exploration and research, they also discovered the world's largest sulfate-type brine potash deposit here.
With such huge reserves, Lop Nur has become the second largest potash mineral source in China.
The discovery of these potash salts is a milestone in solving the long-standing shortage of potash in China.
With the deepening of the development work, the once barren Lop Nur has gradually rejuvenated itself. The state has established a special development zone here, and the "Lop Nur Town" has been established.
This "town" covers an area of 51,000 square kilometers, which is comparable in size to a small province. On this land, a modern potash fertilizer production base has sprung up.
Today, Lop Nur has become the largest production base of potassium sulfate fertilizer in China. Every year, 1.6 million tonnes of potassium sulphate are produced here, accounting for about 13% of global production.
This not only satisfies domestic demand, but also exports to all over the world, earning China the reputation of "potash power".
The changes in Lop Nur are not only reflected in the economy, but also in the improvement of the ecological environment.
As the development progresses, the infrastructure here continues to improve and the greening work continues. What was once a barren desert now has a little greenery.
What's even more gratifying is that the development of Lop Nur has also led to the development of the surrounding area. Tourism is on the rise, and more and more tourists are attracted by the unique landscape and mysterious history.
What was once a daunting "no-go zone for life" is becoming a dynamic emerging economic hub.
The transformation of Lop Nur is not only the development of a place, but also a vivid embodiment of China's scientific and technological strength and economic strength.
It proves that with unwavering faith and perseverance, even the most barren land can be turned into treasure. Today's Lop Nur is continuing to write its legendary story with a new look.
Resources
1. Visit Lop Nur: How did the "Sea of Death" become the "Source of Wealth"? ——Xinhuanet, published on July 10, 2014
2. How terrifying is the "Sea of Death" when trespassing on the carbonization of Lop Nur's remains? —Phoenix Weekly, published on August 10, 2023
3. The Evolution of Lop Nur: Dried up into a "giant ear of the earth", and the lake surface has gradually recovered due to water diversion in recent years——The Paper, released on February 24, 2019