Ancient Chinese Irrigation System OK, While Modern Dams Collapse


	Ancient Chinese Irrigation System OK, While Modern Dams Collapse

ramsesemerson

5-23-2008 12:47 PM

326 views

tags:

china, chinese, earthquake, architecture, irrigation, ancient history

ramsesemerson says:

This happens all over the world--obviously there's something wrong with modern building techniques...like not taking into account the needs of and issues with the area.

Add a Comment

Login to Comment. Not a member yet? Sign up

View the Top Clips from May 23, 2008

Embed This Clip In Your Site...

<div style="margin: 12px 0px; font-family: arial; color: #333333; background: #ffffff; border: solid 4px #e5e5e5; width: 100%; clear: left;"><div class="CM_CTB_Content_Wrap" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;background-color: #ffffff;"><div style="border-bottom: solid 1px #dcdcdc; white-space: nowrap; margin-bottom: 8px; background-color: #eeeeee ;background-image: url(http://www.clipmarks.com/images/source-bg.gif); background-repeat: repeat-x; height: 24px; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: middle; padding-bottom: 4px; color: #666666; font-size: 10px;" ><a href="http://clipmarks.com/clip-to-blog/" title="see clips that are hot right now"><img src="http://content.clipmarks.com/blog_embed/fa4337df-08ab-4b9c-93e7-09584ef0670c/8888C361-D84D-4A63-BF0F-756BC5DAEA2A/" alt="" width="19" height="19" border="0" style="vertical-align: middle; margin: 0px 4px; display: inline; border: none; float:none;" /></a>clipped from <a title="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080523/sc_afp/chinaquakedamunescoheritage_080523035542" href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080523/sc_afp/chinaquakedamunescoheritage_080523035542" style="font-size: 11px;">news.yahoo.com</a></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080523/sc_afp/chinaquakedamunescoheritage_080523035542"><P>
                        DUJIANGYAN, China (AFP) - 
High above the world's oldest operating <SPAN id="lw_1211515066_0" class="yshortcuts">irrigation system</SPAN>, Zhang Shuanggun, a local villager, stands on an observation platform cracked by <SPAN id="lw_1211515066_1" class="yshortcuts">China</SPAN>'s massive earthquake last week.                        
                        </P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080523/sc_afp/chinaquakedamunescoheritage_080523035542"><P>
She has a simple answer for why the ancient, bamboo-based Dujiangyan irrigation system sustained only minor damage, while nearby modern dams and their vast amounts of concrete are now under 24-hour watch for signs of collapse.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080523/sc_afp/chinaquakedamunescoheritage_080523035542"><P>
"This ancient project is perfection," Zhang said.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080523/sc_afp/chinaquakedamunescoheritage_080523035542"><P>
Built from 256 BC, the system involved diverting the Minjiang River's flow using man-made islands built on bamboo frames that allowed water and fish to flow freely underneath.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080523/sc_afp/chinaquakedamunescoheritage_080523035542"><P>
Yet despite its close proximity to the quake, the system suffered only minor damage and was not compromised, according to the government.</P></blockquote><div style="height: 2px; font-size: 2px; background: #dcdcdc; border-bottom: solid 1px #f5f5f5; margin: 2px 4px;"></div><blockquote style="text-align: left; padding: 0px 8px; margin: 4px 0px 8px 0px; background: transparent; border: none;" cite="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080523/sc_afp/chinaquakedamunescoheritage_080523035542"><P>
At the same time, several dams were damaged by the earthquake and are now under constant watch for signs of collapse amid concerns they may not be able to withstand strong aftershocks or flooding.</P></blockquote></div><div style="margin: 0px 6px 6px 4px;"><table style="font-size: 11px;border-spacing: 0px;padding: 0px;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;">&nbsp;</td><td align="right" style="background:transparent;border-width:0px;padding:0px;width:107px" width="107"><a href="http://clipmarks.com/share/8888C361-D84D-4A63-BF0F-756BC5DAEA2A/blog/" title="blog or email this clip"><img src="http://content8.clipmarks.com/images/c2b-foot.png" border="0" alt="blog it" width="107" height="17" style="border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;" /></a></td></tr></table></div></div>