Kekexili, located in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with an average altitude of more than 4600 meters, cold and lack of oxygen, harsh natural conditions, is the last natural place in China that retains its original state, known as the "forbidden area of life". In this no-man's land, there are many mysteries that puzzle scientists.
Mystery 1: The cause of Cocosiri
Kekexili is located in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which is formed mainly as a result of uplift caused by plate collisions. But the closest plate collision zone to Cocoxili is also 2,000 kilometers away, making it almost impossible to pair Cocoa
The formation of Siri played a role. So, how exactly did Cocosiri come about? This remains a mystery to this day.
Mystery 2: Are there more or fewer Tibetan antelopes
When people think of Cocoxili, they will think of the Tibetan antelope here, which is called "the pride of Cocoxili". Over the years, a lot of efforts have been made to protect this rare species.
In response to the statement that "too many Tibetan antelopes may affect the normal growth of vegetation in Cocoxili", experts said that there is currently no problem of too many Tibetan antelopes, and the number of Tibetan antelopes is still very limited, which is an endangered animal and needs to be protected. In addition, experts also remind everyone to pay attention not only to Tibetan antelopes, but also to wild yaks, Tibetan wild asses, brown bears and other rare wild animals that inhabit Cocoxili.
Mystery 3: Whether oil and gold can be discovered
The geological structure of the Cocoxili area is very suitable for the formation of oil and gas fields, and in previous scientific expeditions, it has been found that there are places where asphalt and crude oil seep from the surface, all of which indicate the possibility of large oil and gas fields here. However, at present, scientific research efforts are limited, and it takes a long time to analyze and evaluate the specific location of a large oil and gas field.
Compared with the suspense of the oil and gas fields, the rumor that Cocoxili is rich in gold has been around for a long time. As early as the 80s of the 20th century, there was a gold rush here. At that time, more than 100,000 people entered the marginal areas of Cocoxili to pan for gold, and there were even reports that some institutions had issued "gold digging orders" to gold diggers. Experts say gold, copper, lead and zinc ore are likely to be present here, and reserves should be large. However, unless the country urgently needs it, even if it is discovered, precious metal deposits will not be exploited.
Development and conservation have always been a contradiction in the Cocoxili region. But in this region, conservation is absolutely more important than development.
Mystery 4: The mysterious lake that appears in Cocoxili
Through satellite images in recent years, experts have discovered that many new small lakes have appeared in the Cocoxili region. What is the origin of these lakes? This question has puzzled scientists for many years.
There are two theories about the origin of these lakes: one thought to be formed by precipitation, and the other thought to be formed by melting glaciers and permafrost. If it comes from precipitation, it means that the ecological condition of this area is good; But if it comes from melting glaciers and permafrost, it means that the ecology is deteriorating.
Why does thawing permafrost indicate ecological deterioration? Audiences who have seen the movie "Coco Xili" must have been impressed by the plot of the anti-poachers caught in quicksand in the film. But in fact, the kind of quicksand in the movie is relatively rare in Cocoxili, because there is a large area of frozen soil on the surface, which plays a role in conserving water. Once the permafrost thaws, its role in conserving water disappears, the water evaporates, and the soil deserts, leading to the collapse of the entire ecosystem. At that point, the frightening quicksand of the movie will appear on a large scale.
