Attraction of Korla Lop Nur

Korla Lop Nur: In Mongolian, Lop Nur means "The Lake Converging Many Water Sources." This great lake was in ancient times called "Puchang Sea", "Salt Lake", "Luopu Pond" and "Youze Lake". Located in the northern part of Ruoqiang County and in the eastern part of the Tarim Basin, it occupies an area of 3,066 square kilometers, the biggest salt migration lake in China. Strategically located on the south route of the ancient Silk Road, it was the only way to go in the ancient communications between east and west. There are still many historic sites along its bank.

Lop Nur, lying east of Korla and covering 3,000 square kilometres, was an important station on the Silk Road and once a very large lake. In the Han dynasty, Lop Nur was such a vast lake that it was often mistaken as the source of the Yellow River. However, over deforestation and environmental deterioration caused by human activity curtailed the lifespan of the lake and during the 4th century A.D. codes and regulations had to be introduced to control the use of the insufficient water. When Marco Polo reached Lop Nur in 1275 he found nothing more than sand. Its contraction continued and Lop Nur finally disappeared in 1972.iIn 1996 a famous explorer, Yu Chunshun, died accidentally in Lop Nur on his expedition, and before him, another Chinese scientist, Peng Jiamu lost his life there whilst carrying out his research 1n1979.