UYGHUR KAREZES
THE UNDERGROUND GREAT WALL
The great karez system which partially standed confidential in Central Asia for ages is now revealed…
ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY
The world “uygarlık” which means civilization in Turkish comes from the word “Uyghur”…
Basicly this documentary is a discovery. It has two dimensions: ecology and history. Primarily this film opens new horizons on the struggle with the ferocious enemy of earth: the global warming. Secondly it marks new statements and modifications about the archaic history of Central Asia.
The subject of this documentary is the story of Uyghur Karezes created 2500 years before or more. The Uyghur Karezes are situated in the city of Turpan in Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. Karez is a traditional irrigation water system which makes use of underground water efficiently. The Karez technology is carrying water, with underground tunnels, in the middle of the desert, collected from rainfall and melted snow in mountainous area or provided stable water resources of high quality water.
Like many others one of the finest environment consultants Fred Pearce claims that the karez system is one of the main vigourous solution through the effects of global warming. Indeed this system which can tansform the middle of the desert to a forest is the only chance in drought areas for the world.
This documentary also reveals new facts on Central Asia indirectly through the karezes and the antique city of Jiaohe (Yarnaz) just beside.
The total length of karez tunnnels in Xinjiang is 5100 km the inmost depth is -120 m! Karezes are a technological and engineering wonder
The world have heard almost nothing down to date. Because historians had the aptitude to connivance this structure. But progressively the conusants scientists have a clear conception that these structures are an omitted wonder and deserves a high respect both for the past and future.
The title of the documentary is “Uyghur Karezes” because Uyghurs are the people who live where are situated karezes and are stil continuing the tradition.
If not preserved karezes have only 25 years to live. That is why Turpan karezes are a candidate in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The documentary will be a mediate support for efforts about karez.
SYNOPSIS
The difficulty to leave in the steppe gives courage, voyaging a lot gives wisdom and the infinite horizon gives imagination. That is why nomads stranded between the mountains and steppes decided 2500 years before to put themselves in the Taklamakan desert. Bu this time they were faced to a new obstacle: intensive drought. These intelligent and patient people bringed water in to their cities by broaching mountains, and digging underground tunnels streching for miles. This arcaic system which populates the middle of the desert is named “karez”. The overall longness of tunnels is 5100 kilometers and the inmost is 120 meters. The heritage that the chinese scientists call “The Underground Great Wall” is continuing even today to flourish the desert. And will be the safety of nature in the future under the menace of global climate change. The great karez system which partially standed confidential in Central Asia for ages is now revealed.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
The intense research and plannig of the project took 1,5 year. Shootings were done in China, UK, Austria, Luxemburg and Turkey. The production team covered more than 25.000 km in three weeks. 2D and 3D animations with lots of maps were designed in order to illustrate the subject. Interviews are done with one of the best environment consultant Fred Pearce, with respectable scholars in the field such as Prof. Herbert Weingartner, Prof. Lu Enguo, Dr. Li Xiao, Dr. Yang Shengwen, one of the best karez researcher in the wolrd Dr. Afridin Gafur Nureddin and with the author of karez books Dursun Özden. More Prof. Ronald Manley and PhD. Patrick Reynolds are participating as consultants with Ömer Madra in the Project. Greenpeace International supported indirectedly the project. Turkish Ministry of Culture and Chinese Ambassy in Ankara supported the Project which was produced by Corpora Productions.
Duration: 51 minutes
www.uyghurkarezesdoc.com
2 comments:
Dear Mr Hans van Roon,
I am Iranian.i must say with all approciation and respect i have for your researches and documentaries which you have published, It is disappointing for not showing any single mention in your history from Persia where this technology was originated from and still these karizes are used extensively in deserts in Iran. the only thing i can think of,which would cause the name of such big civilisation, from borders of China to the borders of Greece
to be wiped out from your documentary, is that someone who has paid for these research did not want any name from our civilisation to be mentioned deliberately. Please correct me if i am wrong. But overall it was pleasure for me to read you documents and i am greatful for your work. thank you
Dear Mr Hans van Roon,
I am Iranian.i must say with all approciation and respect i have for your researches and documentaries which you have published, It is disappointing for not showing any single mention in your history from Persia where this technology was originated from and still these karizes are used extensively in deserts in Iran. the only thing i can think of,which would cause the name of such big civilisation, from borders of China to the borders of Greece
to be wiped out from your documentary, is that someone who has paid for these research did not want any name from our civilisation to be mentioned deliberately. Please correct me if i am wrong. But overall it was pleasure for me to read you documents and i am greatful for your work. thank you
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