Several tributary streams off the Yangtse have gorges of their own that
will also be flooded. We got to see 2 of the lesser 3 gorges, water was
very low on our trip. We had to go overland to get a large motorized
Sampan to navigate the river. Lots of other tourists were doing the same.
This was one of the more spectacular trips, with rushing blue water, terraced
landscapes to be destroyed, monkeys, hanging coffins and men with poles
pushing you through the rapids.
 | IMG_7013S.JPG
(768 x 1024 - 95K) |
We sail through the rapids
| |
|
 | IMG_7039S.JPG
(1280 x 960 - 229K) |
Motorcycle waits on bank in lesser 3 gorges
| |
 | IMG_7048S.JPG
(1280 x 960 - 163K) |
Other tourists are more water safety aware
|
 | IMG_7065S.JPG
(768 x 1024 - 163K) |
Sheer cliffs at side of gorge
| |
 | IMG_7068S.JPG
(1280 x 960 - 135K) |
Scenery
|
 | IMG_7084S.JPG
(1280 x 960 - 158K) |
Tourists skip stones where the water gets too shallow.
| |
 | IMG_7119S.JPG
(768 x 1024 - 146K) |
Blue water and steep cliff
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 75K) |
We leave our ship at sunrise. Other ships are docked many deep, as were we.
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 51K) |
The sun rises behind the mountains as we head to the lesser 3 gorges
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 160K) |
This bridge, at the entrance to the lesser 3, will be 5 feet above water, and thus must be destroyed.
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 141K) |
I boat the small sampan for a tour up the lesser 3
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 116K) |
Punter pushes our boat off from the docks
| |
 | | (683 x 1024 - 73K) |
The water and the first gorge
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 242K) |
These square holes in the rock were placed there 2000 years ago, so that posts could be put in them to support a walkway for use when the water was too fast. This will be flooded.
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 143K) |
Close-up of post-holes for the ancient path
|
 | | (683 x 1024 - 57K) |
Punter negotiates our Sampan through rapids
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 83K) |
Soon the water will be hundreds of feet deep, no punting needed.
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 116K) |
K. enjoys the blue waters of the lesser 3 gorges
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 119K) |
Serene gorge in a slower part
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 161K) |
More farmland to be destroyed and filled.
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 147K) |
Tourists pause for a moment on the river bank
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 205K) |
Stalactites hang from the rocks at the side of the river
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 121K) |
Sampan traffic moves into the 2nd gorge.
|
 | | (683 x 1024 - 93K) |
The gorge is thin and scenic
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 153K) |
Punters relax and let the motor do the work.
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 134K) |
The walls are close and the pollution high.
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 134K) |
It's easier coming downstream
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 62K) |
Taken looking straight up, the walls close in
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 165K) |
The Buddha mountain
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 145K) |
Tourist watches the walls go by.
| |
 | | (683 x 1024 - 75K) |
K. enjoys the view from the front of the Sampan
|
 | | (1076 x 788 - 278K) |
Monkeys play on the walls of the gorge.
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 188K) |
One of the famous hanging coffins, suspended thousands of feet up the gorge walls. You needed to be powerful to rate this.
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 246K) |
More monkeys at play
| |
 | | (1208 x 888 - 185K) |
Monkeys with a long lens
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 156K) |
We pause by the side of the stream
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 218K) |
Our tour guide waits on our Sampan. He's seen it before.
|
 | | (683 x 1024 - 109K) |
Down the nose of the Sampan
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 119K) |
Punter looks serene as we go downstream.
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 137K) |
Our other punter
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 141K) |
Shot above the Sampan
|
 | | (683 x 1024 - 105K) |
K. enjoys the trip
| |
 | | (683 x 1024 - 105K) |
Another shot down the bow with the gorge rising in the haze
|
 | | (1280 x 853 - 106K) |
Punter is sublime as we prepare to end the journey.
| |
 | | (1280 x 853 - 87K) |
Pilot of another Sampan, with doomed fields in the background
|
