28
increased. As a result, the water intake in the middle reaches has increased substantially, while the river discharge to the lower reaches has declined (Figs. 2.3 and 2.4 ).
The author visited the Heihe River basin for the fi rst time in 2001. That summer,
as a graduate student majoring in hydrology, he joined a research project that was
investigating the water balance of the river basin. He was in charge of the study of
the lower reaches. For the research, the author travelled the desert to fi nd Mongolian
nomadic households and to investigate their wells. Though a total stranger, he was
welcomed warmly with tea and wine. He sometimes spent nights in their yurts, and
was served fresh goat meat, which was the best treat in the region. The hospitality
was impressive. Every time he returns to the region, the author tries to visit the same
Fig. 2.4 Wells buried by sand (June 2002)
Fig. 2.3 A river disappearing
into the desert, lower reaches
of the Heihe River basin
(January 2002)
T. Akiyama et al.
increased. As a result, the water intake in the middle reaches has increased substantially, while the river discharge to the lower reaches has declined (Figs. 2.3 and 2.4 ).
The author visited the Heihe River basin for the fi rst time in 2001. That summer,
as a graduate student majoring in hydrology, he joined a research project that was
investigating the water balance of the river basin. He was in charge of the study of
the lower reaches. For the research, the author travelled the desert to fi nd Mongolian
nomadic households and to investigate their wells. Though a total stranger, he was
welcomed warmly with tea and wine. He sometimes spent nights in their yurts, and
was served fresh goat meat, which was the best treat in the region. The hospitality
was impressive. Every time he returns to the region, the author tries to visit the same
Fig. 2.4 Wells buried by sand (June 2002)
Fig. 2.3 A river disappearing
into the desert, lower reaches
of the Heihe River basin
(January 2002)
T. Akiyama et al.