TheYarlung TsangpoGrand Canyon, also known as Brahmaputra Canyon, is located in Tibet and lies where the Himalayas, the Hengduan Range, and the Nyainqentanglha Range all come together.
This canyon isa major tourist attraction, equal in wonder with thePotala PalaceandMount Everest. One of the best kept secrets of Tibet, the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon was closed to the public from the late 1940s to the 1990s.
In 1993 permits to access the area became available and kayakers began to explore the area. Called the "Everest of Rivers"because of itsaltitudeand challenging dangerous waters, this beautiful area has been rediscovered by adventurous tourists.
Climate of the Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon
The deep gorge receives moisture from theIndian oceanflowing through to the inner mountainous area, and turning the southeast part of theQinghai-Tibet Plateauinto a lush green subtropical oasis.
There are a total of 17 mountain peaks higher than6,000 metersalong the canyon. These mountain peaks are covered with snow and theclimateon the slopes ranges from subtropical to temperate to Alpine to arctic.
Ecosystem of Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon
Because of the extremely wide range in climate, andtemperature,the Yarlung Tsangpou Grand Canyon has one of the most abundant andcomplex ecosystemsin the world.
Among therarespecies ofanimals发现在该地区是孟加拉虎ar monkey, the giant boa constrictor, and the rare takin, a type of antelope. Flora in the region includes the fern tree, the Yunnan iron tree and different types of mosses.
Features of Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon
The word Yarlung Tsangpo in the Tibetan ancient languagemeansliterally "water flowing down from the summit". This beautiful canyon passes between the mountains ofNamcha Barwa(Nanjiabawa)and Gyala Peri, where it has an average depth of 5000 meters.
One of the mostspectacular featuresof the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon are thetwo waterfalls, Rainbow Falls and Hidden Falls located in the Pemako region, which at one time were hidden by Tibetan monks who regarded them as sacred.
These falls have been called the most beautiful falls in all of China and may possibly have been the inspiration for a fictional place calledShangri-Lawhich was described in a book calledLost Horizon, written by British author James Hilton.
Size of the Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon
In 1994 the Chinese Academy of Science declared the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon thelargest canyonin the world, which was later substantiated by GPS which measured the canyon at 496 km long.
It is also said to be thedeepestcanyon. Covering 17,000 square kilometers and measuring 5,382 meters deep at its lowest point, this canyon surpasses both Peru's Kelka Canyon and the United States' Grand Canyon located in Arizona.
Theentire areaincludes Pailong Village inNyingchi County, the Pai Village in Milin County and Motuo County.
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>>See Also
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- 10-Days Beijing-Lhasa-Shanghai
- 8-Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Tour
- 7-Days Tibet Tours by Train from Xining
- 5-Days Lhasa Classics and Lake Yamdrok -Tour
- 4-Days Lhasa Highlights Comfort Tour
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