Tibet

Dr. Diana Prince

Description

This book is intended to present this fascinating country and its people. In my experiences in Tibet, I have been overwhelmed by the openness and the great warmth of the Tibetan people. They are strong and determined to maintain their amazing country in the context of a rapidly changing world. Above all, Tibet is a land of great beauty and enchantment.

Sujets

• Photographie Créative
• Tibet
• Regional
• Photography
• Travel
• Subjects
• Themes

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse
• Date de parution: 26 mars 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9798823002578
• Langue: English

Extrait

T IBET
 
 
Dr. Diana Pr ince
 
© 2023 Dr. Diana Prince. All rights reserved.
 
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
 
AuthorHouse™
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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
All photographs in this book were taken by the author, and are the sole property of the author.
 
ISBN: 979-8-8230-0258-5 (sc)
ISBN: 979-8-8230-0259-2 (hc)
ISBN: 979-8-8230-0257-8 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023904081
 
Published by AuthorHouse 03/24/2023
 
 

Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1Mount Everest
Chapter 2Monasteries of Tibet
Chapter 3Cities and Towns
Chapter 4Adventures on the Road
Chapter 5People
Introduction
Tibet, the country known as “The Roof of the World”, is a land of stunning beauty. Tucked away in the mountains of the Himalaya, it is a land of color and wonder. Tibet lies at an altitude of 14,000 feet, making it the highest nation in the world.
 
Mount Everest, on the border between Tibet and Nepal, towers over the landscape at an altitude of 29,029 feet.
 
A tumultuous history in the last few centuries has created some upheavals in the political landscape of the country. Tibet is an enduring and rugged country, dealing with modern challenges and threats to its sovereignty.
 
This book is intended to present this fascinating country and its people. In my experiences in Tibet, I have been overwhelmed by the openness and the great warmth of the Tibetan people. They are strong and determined to maintain their amazing country in the context of a rapidly changing world.
 
Above all, Tibet is a land of great beauty and enchantment.

Mount Everest
MOUNT EVEREST
CHAPTER ONE Mount Everest
Mount Everest is one of the world’s greatest challenges. It lies at a height of 29,029 feet. Base Camp for Everest on the Tibet side is called North Everest Base Camp, and lies below the northern face of Everest.
 
On the opposite side of Mount Everest in Nepal, there is a South Base Camp. The closest major city to Mount Everest is not in Tibet, but at Kathmandu in Nepal.
 
The Tibet Base Camp for climbing Mount Everest lies at an altitude of 17,056 feet. This Base Camp is located at the small village of Oomolangma in Tibet. The base camp on the Tibet side lies in a region called Tingri. This area is also called the Oomolangma National Nature Preserve.
 
From September to May climbers have an unobstructed view of Mount Everest.
 
It should be noted that the Base Camp on the Nepal side of Everest lies at a much lower altitude than the Tibet Base Camp. The Nepal ascent begins at an altitude of 5,000 feet. This requires a much longer ascent than from the Tibet camp, and therefore a greater reliance on oxygen to meet the longer duration of the climb.
 
In other words, it becomes more challenging climbing from the Nepal base camp, because climbers need longer to adjust to the lower oxygen levels.
 
However, oxygen can be a serious challenge for either side if the climber is not prepared for such a rigorous and challenging climb.
 
Almost 70 years ago, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, were the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
 
In 1980, climber Reinhold Messner was the first individual to make a solitary climb, without the benefit of any companions. Even more astounding was that his climb was accomplished without the use of supplemental oxygen.
 
Another intrepid climber was 80 year old Yuichiro, who was one of the oldest recorded climbers.
 
Climbing Everest remains one of the world’s great challenges. Good health and both physical and mental preparation are critical for climbers who intend to tackle the challenge of Mt. Everest. Endurance training and aerobic conditioning are vital for any climbers attempting to scale Everest.
 
Even at the Everest Base Camp, excellent fitness is critical. Altitude Mountain Sickness is a stark reality for Everest climbers. Even very healthy people can be affected by the lack of oxygen in their attempt to scale the mountain. At an altitude of 2,800 meters, which is 9,186 feet, for instance, there is 60 percent less oxygen than at sea level. The use of the medication Diamin is a regular treatment for mountain sickness caused by high altitude oxygen deprivation.
 
Only skilled climbers can navigate well in the high altitudes. Over 26,000 feet is considered the “death zone” in altitude climbing. At that height, the oxygen pressure is insufficient for survival without special equipment for most people. Some Sherpa natives who reside in this region have managed to develop abilities to function and acclimatize in the frigid temperatures, but these are rare exceptions.
 
It is vital that climbers acclimate their bodies to the higher altitude gradually, and that is why attempts to scale Everest can take several days or weeks to achieve.
 
Not only is oxygen decreased, but the temperature in degrees plummets with altitude.
 
Within that “death zone”, temperatures do not rise above zero degrees Fahrenheit. The local Sherpa climbers are more acclimatized to such difficult ascents, but even they will regularly use supplemental oxygen, as the air thins and the temperatures plummet at the highest altitudes.
 
For climbers, wind can also be a deterrent. Some winds on Mount Everest have been registered in excess of 200 miles per hour.
 
At the top of Mount Everest, the summit temperatures are always below freezing. They can drop to -76 degrees Fahrenheit.
 
Even with extensive training, the demands of scaling Everest may be too difficult. Although most climbers have trained intensively, only two-thirds complete the climb and reach the summit.
 
The famous mountaineer, Nims Purja was able to reach the summit of Everest without supplemental oxygen.
For those who prefer not to challenge the summit, there is Mount Everest National Park located at 9,700 feet. It is the world’s highest altitude national park.
 
 
Rivers, Canyons and Lakes of T ibet
 
The impact of Everest and its surrounding mountains have directly shaped the topography and the river systems of Tibet.
 
In Tibet, Asia’s three great rivers—the Yangtze, the Salween or “Nu River”, and the Mekong River—come together. These tremendous forces have shaped the Tibetan landscape.
 
Most of Tibet’s rivers were formed from underground sources and melting glaciers in the Tibetan mountain system, including those from the mighty Everest.
 
The most important river in Tibet is the Yellow River. Its source is in the Qinghai province on the Tibetan plateau. At over 3,395 miles in length, it is the second longest river in all of Asia. It flows out of Tibet and into China over a vast grassland area. Its course passes alongside part of the Old Silk Road where ancient caravans once traveled.
 
The Yarlung Zangbo is Tibet’s longest river. It has the distinction of having the highest elevation of any river in the world. It has also created its own “Grand Canyon” due to the heavy runoff of rain over thousands of years.
 
Tibet’s Yarlang Zangbo Canyon has a depth of 7,440 feet. Climbers can hike into this region through the Doxong Pass.
 
The Yarlang Zangbo is the deepest canyon in the world, greatly surpassing the Grand Canyon in depth.
 
Lake Namtso, near the town of Nagqu, lies 200 miles north of Lhasa. It is the largest salt lake in Tibet. The lake lies at an altitude of over 15,000 feet. Its name means “heavenly lake.” Legends say the lake was sent to earth as a gift from the gods.
 
The lake covers an area of over 700 square miles. There are even five islands within the lake.