Yangbajain Explained

Official Name:Yangbajain
Translit Lang1 Type:Tibetan
Translit Lang1 Info:ཡངས་པ་ཅན།
Translit Lang1 Info1:yangs pa can
Translit Lang1 Type2:pronunciation in IPA
Translit Lang1 Info2:in Tibetan pronounced as /jaŋpatɕɛ̃/
Translit Lang1 Info3:Yangbajain
Translit Lang1 Type4:THDL
Translit Lang1 Info4:Yangpachen
Translit Lang1 Type5:other transcriptions
Translit Lang1 Info5:Yangpachän
Translit Lang2 Type:Traditional/Simplified
Translit Lang2 Info1:Yángbājǐng
Pushpin Map:China Tibet
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Tibet Autonomous Region
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:China
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Tibet Autonomous Region
Subdivision Type2:Prefecture
Subdivision Name2:Lhasa
Subdivision Type3:County
Subdivision Name3:Damxung County
Population Blank1 Title:Major Nationalities
Population Blank1:Tibetan
Population Blank2 Title:Regional dialect
Population Blank2:Tibetan language
Timezone:+8
Coordinates:30.0833°N 123°W

Yangbajain (also spelled Yangbajing;) is a town approximately 87km (54miles) north-west of Lhasa, halfway to Damxung in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The town lies just south of the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains, in an upland lush green valley surrounded by the tents of nomads with grazing yak and sheep populating the hillside. It is the site Yangpachen Monastery, which was historically the seat of the Shamarpas of Karma Kagyü and the Yangbajing International Cosmic Ray Observatory.

Geothermal field

The area is famous for the Yangbajain Geothermal Field, which has been harnessed to produce electricity for the capital Lhasa. There is a thermoelectric power plant on the edge of the Yangbajain field covering 20–30 square kilometers.[1] The power plant was established in 1977, and was the first development of geothermal power not only in Tibet but in the whole of China.

The Yangbajain hot springs field is at an elevation of 4290to[2] which makes it the highest elevation set of hot springs in China, and possibly the world.[3] The highest temperature inside the drilling hole is 125.5°C.[4]

Holy Medical Spring Resort

The Holy Medical Spring Resort has both two indoor swimming pools and one outdoor swimming pool, all filled with hot springs water.[4] Bathing is allowed at an elevation of 4200m AMSL, likely making it the highest swimming pool in the world.

Yangbajing International Cosmic Ray Observatory

The YBJ International Cosmic Ray Observatory (羊八井国际宇宙线观测站) is located in the Yangbajing valley of the Tibetan highland, a site chosen for its high elevation at 4300 meters above sea level.[5] Collaborating institutes includes the INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare) and various Chinese and Japanese universities.[6] [7] The KOSMA 3-m submillimeter telescope has been relocated to a nearby site and renamed CCOSMA.

See also

References

30.0833°N 123°W

Notes and References

  1. http://ru.china-embassy.org/rus/ztbd/xzzt/xzjj/t69893.htm Geography
  2. https://archive.today/20130202132205/http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V4S-4FS23B1-1&_user=10&_coverDate=10/31/2005&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=2ba18b62f7ae4f3925b8ae2f5e94c4a6 Forecast and evaluation of hot dry rock geothermal resource in China
  3. http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_focus/2005-10/14/content_75100.htm Chinese cultural organization site making claim that these are the highest altitude hot springs in the world
  4. Book: Travel guide to Tibet of China. 安才旦 . China Intercontinental Press. 28. 2010-11-30 . 9787508503745. 2003.
  5. Web site: 羊八井国际宇宙线观测站主页. 高能所网. 2005-09-26. July 29, 2008.
  6. Web site: The ARGO-YBJ Experiment. INFN. 2008-12-03. January 29, 2009.
  7. Web site: The Tibet ASgamma Collaboration. ICRR. 2008-02-02. January 29, 2009.