In 1976, Chinese scientists made a comprehensive scientific survey in an area about 300,000 square kilometres on the plateau in northern Tibet. The investigation covered many branches of science including geology, geomorphology, pedology, hydrology, botany, zoology and geothermics.

The survey took place in Tibet's highest and coldest area which is sparsely populated. Before liberation, some foreign scientists who went to only a few places in this area jumped to the conclusion that the plateau was a "centre of aridity," where "life is extremely scarce."

The study reveals that hail and sleet often fall on the plateau during the warmer months between June and August, while in January and February there is plenty of snowfall. Permafrost has been found in some places where the surface soil thaws in the warm season and there is no deficiency of moisture. Even in the highest and coldest parts of the plateau, no traces show that they have been completely covered by ancient glaciers. So the large tracts of land there can be opened up and utilized.

Most significant are the encouraging results in zoology and botany. Of the about 300 kinds of plant specimens, over 100 kinds were collected in the highest and coldest northwestern tip. The area is also a natural zoo, which abounds in Tibetan antelopes, wild asses, hares, foxes, snow leopards, brown bears, wild geese, cranes and ducks. Tibetan loaches were found living in mountain streams 5,200 metres above sea level, so far the highest altitude at which any species of fish have been found. All this points to rich plant and animal resources in this area.

Scientists found numerous animal fossils including stromatoporoids, bryozoans, corals and brachiopods in the marine Palaeozoic rocks and abundant orbitolina, a sort of puddingshaped foraminifera fossils in the Mesozoic rocks. These fossils are of great scientific value for verifying the history of the geological development of the Chinghai-Tibet Plateau and determining the stratigraphical division. In addition, the expedition members located many places indicating ore deposits of chromium and magnetite and multiple ore minerals and a carbon dioxide spring whose temperature is about 60?C.

With big and small lakes dotting the plateau in northern Tibet, the region abounds in salt mines. Scientists made detailed surveys of some major lakes and obtained a wealth of data.

The results of the survey on the plateau, confirmed by the practice of the Tibetan people in production, prove that there are rich natural resources and adequate conditions are available for further exploiting them.

(This article appears on page 32, No. 21, 1977)