Brad Templeton's Photography
Lesser Three Gorges

Lesser Three Gorges

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.

We sail through the rapids
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We sail through the rapids
Motorcycle waits on bank in lesser 3 gorges
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Motorcycle waits on bank in lesser 3 gorges
Other tourists are more water safety aware
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Other tourists are more water safety aware
Sheer cliffs at side of gorge
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Sheer cliffs at side of gorge
Scenery
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Scenery
Tourists skip stones where the water gets too shallow.
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Tourists skip stones where the water gets too shallow.
Blue water and steep cliff
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Blue water and steep cliff
We leave our ship at sunrise.  Other ships are docked many deep, as were we.
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We leave our ship at sunrise. Other ships are docked many deep, as were we.
The sun rises behind the mountains as we head to the lesser 3 gorges
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The sun rises behind the mountains as we head to the lesser 3 gorges
This bridge, at the entrance to the lesser 3, will be 5 feet above water, and thus must be destroyed.
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This bridge, at the entrance to the lesser 3, will be 5 feet above water, and thus must be destroyed.
I boat the small sampan for a tour up the lesser 3
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I boat the small sampan for a tour up the lesser 3
Punter pushes our boat off from the docks
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Punter pushes our boat off from the docks
The water and the first gorge
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The water and the first gorge
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.
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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.
Close-up of post-holes for the ancient path
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Close-up of post-holes for the ancient path
Punter negotiates our Sampan through rapids
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Punter negotiates our Sampan through rapids
Soon the water will be hundreds of feet deep, no punting needed.
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Soon the water will be hundreds of feet deep, no punting needed.
K. enjoys the blue waters of the lesser 3 gorges
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K. enjoys the blue waters of the lesser 3 gorges
Serene gorge in a slower part
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Serene gorge in a slower part
More farmland to be destroyed and filled.
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More farmland to be destroyed and filled.
Tourists pause for a moment on the river bank
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Tourists pause for a moment on the river bank
Stalactites hang from the rocks at the side of the river
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Stalactites hang from the rocks at the side of the river
Sampan traffic moves into the 2nd gorge.
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Sampan traffic moves into the 2nd gorge.
The gorge is thin and scenic
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The gorge is thin and scenic
Punters relax and let the motor do the work.
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Punters relax and let the motor do the work.
The walls are close and the pollution high.
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The walls are close and the pollution high.
It's easier coming downstream
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It's easier coming downstream
Taken looking straight up, the walls close in
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Taken looking straight up, the walls close in
The Buddha mountain
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The Buddha mountain
Tourist watches the walls go by.
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Tourist watches the walls go by.
K. enjoys the view from the front of the Sampan
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K. enjoys the view from the front of the Sampan
Monkeys play on the walls of the gorge.
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Monkeys play on the walls of the gorge.
One of the famous hanging coffins, suspended thousands of feet up the gorge walls.  You needed to be powerful to rate this.
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One of the famous hanging coffins, suspended thousands of feet up the gorge walls. You needed to be powerful to rate this.
More monkeys at play
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More monkeys at play
Monkeys with a long lens
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Monkeys with a long lens
We pause by the side of the stream
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We pause by the side of the stream
Our tour guide waits on our Sampan.  He's seen it before.
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Our tour guide waits on our Sampan. He's seen it before.
Down the nose of the Sampan
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Down the nose of the Sampan
Punter looks serene as we go downstream.
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Punter looks serene as we go downstream.
Our other punter
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Our other punter
Shot above the Sampan
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Shot above the Sampan
K. enjoys the trip
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K. enjoys the trip
Another shot down the bow with the gorge rising in the haze
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Another shot down the bow with the gorge rising in the haze
Punter is sublime as we prepare to end the journey.
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Punter is sublime as we prepare to end the journey.
Pilot of another Sampan, with doomed fields in the background
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Pilot of another Sampan, with doomed fields in the background

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