The world's deepest canyon in the Tibetan region of China, located in the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra River, the canyon is named after the great river, called the "Brahmaputra Grand Canyon". The core of the Grand Canyon has a rare group of waterfalls, and the maximum drop can reach 50 meters. At the top of the canyon is an alpine ice and snow belt, and at the bottom is a tropical rainforest, which contains nine vertical natural belts, which is very rare in the world.
That said, in the Quaternary Period, there was a green passage that stretched southeast along the Valley of the Brahmaputra River and the Brahmaputra River, and the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon was an important part of this green channel. The deeply cut Brahmaputra Grand Canyon, like a green gateway to the southeastern Part of the Tibetan Plateau, faces the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, providing a natural passage for warm and moist air currents from the Indian Ocean.
Due to the different climates here, the Grand Canyon has bred a lot of biological resources, providing us with a large number of learning resources. In addition, the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon is sparsely populated, making people know very little about it, among which there are four mysteries that need to be uncovered.
1. Rainbow Falls
Has there ever been a Rainbow Waterfall in the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon? This issue has been controversial and remains inconclusive. In the 1920s, an English explorer Ward came to the Grand Canyon, where he saw a spectacular waterfall. There is a rainbow around this waterfall, and Ward named it "Rainbow Falls".
Ten years later, Bailey, an explorer from the United States, also came here and saw this rainbow waterfall again. But then, the explorers who came to visit could not find the waterfall again. Therefore, the disappearance of Rainbow Falls caught the attention of our national expedition. In 1998, the expedition found a cliff in the Grand Canyon, much like the place Ward and Bailey described earlier.
So, why did Rainbow Falls disappear?
Experts believe that there have been earthquakes here, and the "Rainbow Falls" may well have disappeared in the earthquake, or because landslides blocked the flow of water in the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra. But whether this hypothesis of experts is true is uncertain. In addition, there are people who believe that rainbow falls have not disappeared, it is just not discovered. Therefore, these puzzles need to be solved.
Second, yew
In the Grand Canyon, the expedition team discovered not only cliffs but also large areas of yew trees.
Yew is a rare species and is a protected plant of the state. You know, the distribution of natural yew trees in the world is not much, and it has only been found in Yunnan and Sichuan before. However, this time so many yew trees were found in the Grand Canyon, which is bound to cause a huge sensation in the biological world.
In addition, the expedition found winged insects here. This insect has existed on Earth for many years and can be said to be a "living fossil" in living things. In fact, this insect originally lived in Africa, and later came to the Grand Canyon because of the drift of stratigraphic plates. Although the wingless insects can no longer be found in other parts of the world, such a precious species can be found here.
Because the Grand Canyon is very good at protecting its own ecological environment, these ancient creatures can be preserved.
"Savages" and "Killing Trees";
Around the Grand Canyon, people have been saying "savages". According to locals, in the dense primeval forest at an altitude of about 6,000 meters, traces of "wild people" have been found. However, the wildlings are uncertain, and no one has seen their true faces.
Locals speculate that the wildlings can reach up to two meters tall, have brown or black hair all over their bodies, have sunken eyes, and protruding mouths. In addition, wildlings can not only walk independently, but also emit some notes for communicating with each other. Therefore, these legends cast a layer of mystery on the Grand Canyon, attracting both the curious and the timid.
What's more, there are rumors about "killing trees" in the Grand Canyon. This creature grows in deep mountain forests, they have long branches and have their own reaction system. Once the animal is near, the "killing tree" will immediately wrap it around it with branches, and the branches will secrete anesthetic substances to act on the animals, making the animals unconscious. After that, the animal's flesh and blood are consumed by the "killing tree", making it its own nutrient.
In fact, there is no conclusive evidence to prove the authenticity of the rumors, so there is still a huge controversy.
4. Canyon residents
The Grand Canyon is inhabited by the Memba people, who may come from the Bomi region outside the canyon or from more distant places.
However, the Memba people are very familiar with this place, and the unique environment is suitable for their growth. In fact, the Grand Canyon is located on a plateau, the air is very thin, the climate is cold, which is not conducive to the survival of human beings. However, the Memba people survived here. They live in areas where they live, covered in snow for nearly half of the year, making it almost impossible for them to travel far, so they live in isolation.
Before 2009, there was no access here, and it was the only county in the country that did not have a channel for outward development. Therefore, due to the lack of technology, the local people can only live by fishing, and they cannot effectively use the rich natural resources of the local area. In fact, the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon is full of dangers, not only poisonous snakes and beasts, but also mist miasma, and even natural disasters such as avalanches and mudslides.
However, why the Memba people insist on staying here and living for so long may have something to do with their living habits.
Today, the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon is the last secret place on earth and the only remaining virgin land in the world. No one has dared to drift through its rapids, and no one has been able to walk through its valley floor. With the purest sky in the world, the most flowing clouds, the most majestic snow peaks, and the most beautiful big bends, it is the most beautiful and desirable place in the world. If you have time, you may wish to experience it for yourself.
Resources:
【"Brahmaputra Grand Canyon Ecological Zone", "Development Status of The Monba Ethnic Group" ]