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Three Gorges Reservoir: Rare Geology Museum
Chinese scientists say years' research and field survey shows that the Three Gorges Reservoir area is a rare natural geological museum recording nearly all geological views and major geological changes in history.
A complete collection of stratums, ancient creature sections and relics showing the process of transformation and constitution movement of the earth is presented in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, said Cui Zhengquan, chief engineer of Yangtze River Water Conservancy Committee, at the "Tiankeng-Difeng" geological seminar opened in Fengjie County. The saying has gained worldwide attention among scientists attending the 31st World Geology Congress.
Cui explained that the earth's formation can be traced back to 4.7 to 5 billion years ago, and after another two billion years water and air appeared on the earth. A said metamorphic rock system formed 2.3 billion years ago is the oldest stratum on the earth. Complete stratums and fossils still remain to reveal the evolving process of creatures through all significant times on the earth.
In recent years, karst topographical caves such as Furong Cave, Tiankeng, Difeng etc. having been found successively in the Three Gorges area are admitted to be attractions of exploration and research. Tiankeng, the biggest filler, Difeng, the longest fissure and underground caves and rivers in Xinglong Town of Fengjie County form a special hydrology system marking geological changes since Pleistocene era, serving as watershed of the Yangtze and "living fossil" unveiling the history and culture of the Three Gorges area.
To make most of the wealth of rarest geological resources found in the Three Gorges area, an urgent appeal by Chinese scientists is that a Three Gorges Geological Museum is to be built at the reservoir site.
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