Beijing: A section of China’s Great Wall submerged
in a reservoir in north of Hebei Province for nearly four decades has resurfaced
following decrease in water levels.
The section of the Great Wall, in Kuancheng Man
Autonomous County, was built more than 500 years ago during the Ming Dynasty. It
served as an important pass to the northern and northeastern frontiers.
A massive reservoir was built in the region in 1975.
The section was eventually submerged as the water levels rose. It was believed
to have been lost forever in 1975 when government officials created a massive
reservoir in the valley, submerging the wall and thousands of homes. The
reservoir has been depleted as agricultural and industrial activity increases
downstream. Now drought conditions in the region mean that reservoir water
levels have dropped radically, revealing parts of the Great Wall again for the
first time in more than four decades.
The Great Wall, listed as one of the
seven wonders of the world, has a total length of 21,196 kms. It was damaged or
disappeared in a number of places while it was well preserved as a major
tourist attraction in Beijing.
The Great Wall was built continuously
from the 3rd century BC till the 17th century AD to defend China from external
attacks. It was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. Over four
million tourists visit the Great Wall every year as it is the
centre of China’s tourism campaign.
No comments:
Post a Comment