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the Degree Confluence Project
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China : Qīnghǎi Shěng

30.7 km (19.1 miles) WNW of Yiliping, Qīnghǎi, China
Approx. altitude: 2687 m (8815 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 38°S 87°W

Accuracy: 3 m (9 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: View to the North #3: View to the East #4: View to the South #5: View to the West #6: GPS reading #7: Ground Zero #8: The Confluence Hunter #9: Salt plates #10: Road in 6 km distance to the Confluence

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  38°N 93°E  

#1: The Confluence from 15 m distance

(visited by Rainer Mautz)

14-Jul-2015 -- This is the 7th out of 17 reports of confluence visits while cycling from Kashgar (喀什) to Xī'ān (西安). I cycled through the Chinese provinces of Xīnjiāng, Qīnghǎi, Gānsù, and Shǎnxī, 3600 km in 25 days. The story starts from 39°N 76°E. The previous report is 38°N 92°E.

The confluence is located 6 km from a road. It was early afternoon – the hottest time of the day – when I reached the vicinity of the confluence. Nevertheless, I decided to make an attempt. I found a track that could take me up to a distance of 5 km, but no further. Due the heat, I didn’t dare to run to the confluence. This time I set off with a backpack containing water and food, intending to walk to the confluence within one hour.

For the first kilometre the ground was sandy, but then I crossed a salt lake. The ground got softer and soon I wasn’t sure whether it was still safe to keep on walking forward. What would happen if I would suddenly sink in deeply? The underground was wet such that my shoes got a salt crust. I progressed slowly and cautiously until the situation improved.

At the distance of 1 kilometre to the confluence, I surprisingly crossed an unsealed road. I could have taken a much easier approach, but now it was too late already, I had to return to my bicycle anyways.

At the confluence point, the ground consisted of salt plates mixed with sand. After a rain, the confluence would also be in a salt lake. There was not a single plant, not a single hill, just barren salty ground.

After the visit, I walked back to my bike and kept on cycling eastwards. At midnight, I reached Sobei where I could stay in a simple guesthouse. Surprisingly I met the other cyclists there. This day will stay in my memory quite well: I had cycled 245 km and walked 25 km through the desert, including 2 successful confluence visits.

CP Visit Details:

  • Distance to the road: 6000 m
  • Distance to a track: 5000 m
  • Distance of bicycle parking: 5000 m
  • Time to reach the CP from the road: 80 min
  • Time at the CP: 3:15 PM
  • Measured height: 2678 m
  • Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
  • Position accuracy: 3 m
  • Topography: flat
  • Vegetation: none
  • Weather: partly cloudy sky, 35° C (felt temperature)
  • Given Name: The Wet Salt Lake Confluence

The story continues at 37°N 98°E.


 All pictures
#1: The Confluence from 15 m distance
#2: View to the North
#3: View to the East
#4: View to the South
#5: View to the West
#6: GPS reading
#7: Ground Zero
#8: The Confluence Hunter
#9: Salt plates
#10: Road in 6 km distance to the Confluence
ALL: All pictures on one page