Desert, as we think is no more lifeless; it has become the world’s miracle! Yes, believe it or not, the Tarim Desert highway better known as Cross desert Highway has been declared as the world’s longest desert road from being buried by the sand. This highway was mainly built, using sand control meshing in 1995 to move oil from Tarim basin. Crossing the Taklamakan desert from North to South, this 552-kilometers highway links China National Highway314 and China National Highway 315 simultaneously.
To prevent the road from being buried by sand, Chinese authorities have built a 60-meter wide tree belt along the route with massive irrigation system. The building of the tree-belt with bushes and other vegetation has been done for better anchoring of sand with its roots. This protective green belt has not only improved the ecological environment but also played a vital role in the ecological prevention of sand.
You would be surprised to know that the beautification of this longest desert road has been done with two million rose willows, sacsaoul and buckthorn. An approximate amount of 50 tree varieties have been chosen that mainly includes small leaf dwarf trees that not only loose moisture slowly but are the best resistant to arid conditions. Now, you decide whether it is desert or something else!
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5 Comments, Comment or Ping
By Porch Lifts posted on Sep 26th, 2008
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Man I wouldn’t want to run out of gas or have a breakdown while I was on that road. I wonder how many gas stations are on it. With it being over 300 miles, you would figure there would have to be a couple…
By Pasat posted on Sep 26th, 2008
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I checked on Wikipedia and this is what i found:
“At the halfway point along the desert highway, there are a few restaurants and a gas station. Except for pump house maintenance workers, the region is otherwise entirely uninhabited.”
I don’t know how many gas stations are there but i know there is a one cool pub… check this out http://www.flickr.com/photos/t-a-i/2519980844/
By Porch Lifts posted on Sep 30th, 2008
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Thanks for finding that Pasat, I enjoy your blog!!
I bet that pub makes a pretty good living, because I everyone probably stops in for a drink or something to eat when they reach the halfway point…
By Adele posted on Oct 17th, 2008
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Now that’s how you gather your thoughts.
By Haruyoshi posted on Oct 29th, 2008
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Oh, I am not willing to drive on such a tough road, awesome pictures though, thanks for sharing!
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