Lakes in scenic area unaffected by quake
Print Edition
Most of the lakes in the Jiuzhaigou National Park remain undamaged after an earthquake, although it may take a long time for the UNESCO World Heritage site to recover, according to geologists.
The park contains around 20 tourist sites, and is known for its spectacular waterfalls, lush forests, serene plateau lakes, and karst rock formations.
A 7.0-magnitude quake rocked Jiuzhaigou County on August 8, and many feared the region’s breathtaking scenery had been destroyed forever.
The local government previously said that Nuorilang Waterfall, one of the park’s best-known sites, had collapsed and water had drained from Sparkling Lake. However, recent aerial images showed most of the lakes had suffered little damage.
“Most of Jiuzhaigou’s tourist sites have survived,” said Li Zhiqiang, from the Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration.
However, Li said ongoing aftershocks and possible heavy rain in the coming days may cause further damage to the scenic sites.
The park’s roads suffered significant damage from falling rocks and landslides, Li said. “Roads deep within the scenic area have been destroyed and many areas remain unreachable.”
However, geologists are optimistic about nature’s ability to recover from disasters.
“The lakes were originally formed by earthquakes. This quake may further alter the landforms within the region, but it can also be viewed as part of the rebuilding process,” said Yin Yueping from the Ministry of Land and Resources.
A group of geologists have been monitoring possible secondary disasters in the region and an evaluation of the ecosystem and reconstruction of the scenic area will begin soon.
“Though there is much work to be done, we are confident in nature’s self-restoration capabilities. We will work with UNESCO experts to preserve our valuable heritage,” said Liu Zuoming, Party chief of the Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba.
Tourism is Jiuzhaigou’s primary industry. It received 7.2 million tourists in 2016, with a total tourism revenue of 9 billion yuan (US$1.35 billion).
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