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In Dunhuang, Gansu, China, there is a "pearl" in the desert - Crescent Spring. It is a small lake shaped like a crescent moon, surrounded by singing sand mountains, which contrasts with the surrounding desert and is known as the "first spring of the desert".
However, the crescent spring is also in danger of disappearing. Due to the influence of human activities and natural factors, the crescent spring began to have a decrease in water level and lake area in the 80s of the 20th century.
In order to save this precious natural heritage, the local government has taken a series of protection and restoration measures.
The most notable of these was a program in 2011. At that time, the State Council approved a total of 4.722 billion yuan for the ecological protection of the crescent spring, including the restoration process of the crescent spring.
According to the layout plan of the project, engineers replenish a large amount of water to the crescent spring every year by introducing water from the Dang River, building water seepage projects, and planting trees. In this way, the crescent spring has been effectively protected and restored, and the water level has also been raised to a certain extent, and it has reached a depth of about 5 meters.
However, doing so has also caused some controversy and doubts. Some people think that for a small pond only 5 meters deep in the desert, it will cost 4.7 billion to save it? Is it bad to spend so much money on other areas of people's livelihood?
First, rich geological, geographical and ecological value
The Crescent Spring is a unique geological wonder that was formed thousands of years ago. At that time, this was once the ancient channel of the Dang River. Later, over time, the Dang River was rerouted, and most of the ancient river channel was buried by quicksand.
However, the section of the crescent spring is surrounded by high ground, and the lower terrain in the middle, coupled with the underground, eventually converges into a lake here. With such an excellent location, even if there is a strong wind, the wind will blow down the mountain, and the crescent spring in the lower part will not be affected in any way.
Coupled with the continuous replenishment of underground undercurrents, it has not dried up for thousands of years, and has also created a unique desert landscape. Crescent Spring is also an important ecosystem, providing living space for local flora and fauna.
There are a variety of plants around the crescent spring, such as sand willows, reeds, flower sticks, poplar firewood, etc., forming an oasis. There are also many kinds of fish in the crescent spring, such as carp, crucian carp, silver carp, etc., which are rare aquatic creatures in the desert. The crescent spring is also home to many migratory birds, such as egrets, swans, mandarin ducks, etc., adding life and vitality to the desert.
Second, it carries a long history and culture
The Crescent Spring is not only a natural landscape, but also a historical and cultural symbol. It has witnessed the rise and fall and changes of Dunhuang, and also carries the cultural inheritance and innovation of the Chinese nation. The Crescent Spring is not far from the Mogao Grottoes and is an important part of Dunhuang culture.
The Mogao Grottoes are the world's largest treasure trove of Buddhist art, with 735 caves and 492 painted murals, preserving the essence of Chinese culture for thousands of years. The crescent spring is also a source of inspiration for many literati and inkers, leaving behind many beautiful poems and stories.
For example, the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei once wrote the famous sentence "On the sand and the fowl pond on the dusk, on the pond and on the moon sand on the frost", depicting the night scene of the crescent spring. Guan Hanqing, a playwright of the Yuan Dynasty, also used the crescent spring as a background to create plays such as "Dunhuang Love".
Third, it has promoted local economic and social development
As a famous tourist attraction in the Dunhuang area, Crescent Spring attracts a large number of tourists every year. According to statistics, this is very obvious for the pulling effect of the local economy.
At the same time, the development of tourism has also led to an increase in the income of local farmers and herdsmen. Many farmers and herdsmen have lifted themselves out of poverty and become rich by planting cash crops such as sand willow and licorice, or by launching projects such as desert tourism and folk culture displays.
In addition, the conservation and restoration of the crescent spring has created local jobs and a platform for technological innovation. For example, in order to protect the ecology, manpower must be needed, so the local migrant labor joint team was formed, of which 232 migrant workers, more than 6,000 people followed major enterprises to engage in ecological protection.
With the support of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Ministry of Science and Technology, the largest germplasm resource bank in the entire northwest region was built here, and thousands of desert germplasm resources were preserved. All these have provided a strong guarantee for local social stability and talent training.
epilogue
Crescent Spring is not only a natural wonder, but also a historical and cultural treasure, but also an economic and social engine. In order to protect and restore this precious natural heritage, the local government has invested huge funds and manpower and implemented a series of engineering projects.
Xiaobian believes that it is very necessary to invest 4.7 billion yuan to deliver water every year for a small pond only 5 meters deep in the desert. This is not just to protect a small pond, but to protect a big world. It's not just about meeting a small need, it's about fulfilling a big dream. This is not just to maintain a small balance, but to promote a big development.