Turpan Karez Extension (Flaming Mountains North Piedmont)
Turfan Flaming Mountains Karez · Jiaohe-Gaochang Karez Corridor
Imperial Chinese (Ming-Qing) on Han antecedent·Turpan Uyghur / Han frontier·🇨🇳 Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Turpan Prefecture, Flaming Mountains northern piedmont, China
About
About Turpan Karez Extension (Flaming Mountains North Piedmont)
Eastern extension (30 m asl, 42°57′04″N 89°11′22″E Turpan municipal 42.9512,89.1895; Flaming Mountains 100 km E-W 42.98,89.20 500-850 m) of Turpan-Hami Silk Road karez water system UNESCO 1442 Silk Roads: Chang'an-Tianshan 2014. Northern piedmont field adds 12 karez (total 18 km) between Jiaohe (10 km W of modern Turpan) and Gaochang (Qocho, 30 km SE historic centre) tapping Tianshan glacier melt via 50-90 m head shafts and horizontal galleries, feeding vineyards in Turpan Depression -30 m below sea level. Tianshan glacier decline 21-27% since 1950s threatens recharge; galleries still cool 15°C chain. Turfan volcano cone (1120 Song eruption) 50 km south distinct.
Why it mattersEastern Jiahoe-Gaochang karez extension under Silk Roads 1442.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Han vs Qing karez genealogy
Theories
- 01Tianshan meltwater engineering
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.15th-18th c. (with Han-era Tolay antecedents)
- Period
- Imperial Chinese (Ming-Qing) on Han antecedent
- Culture
- Turpan Uyghur / Han frontier
- Builders
- Turpan oasis gardeners
- Purpose
- Alluvial fan groundwater distribution to depression vineyards and Silk Road caravanserai
- Rediscovered
- 2014 Silk Roads UNESCO 1442 Jiaohe-Gaochang corridor
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
103 BCE
Han Jiaohe (Yar-Khoto) foundation
2014
Silk Roads 1442 karez listed
On the ground
Structures & features
42.9500° N · 89.1900° E · 30 m · 2 mapped features
Flaming Mountains Head Shaft Cluster
hydraulic90-m mother well under Flaming Mountains northern edge
42.9520° N · 89.1920° EJiaohe Ancient City Karez Mouth
hydraulicKarez mouth feeding Jiaohe 10 km W Turpan garrison
42.9480° N · 89.1880° E