Daxihaizi Reservoir, reservoir in Xinjiang
Daxihaizi Reservoir is a shallow water body located at the end of the Tarim River in Xinjiang, China, near the Taklamakan Desert. Built between 1958 and 1972 by soldiers of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, it now serves primarily to store and regulate water for environmental restoration in the surrounding desert region.
The reservoir was constructed beginning in 1958 by soldiers of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and completed in 1972. Following its completion, the lower Tarim River dried up in 1972, and nearby Taitema Lake disappeared entirely in 1974, revealing how fragile water balance was in this desert region.
The site is located in a remote, dry area near the Taklamakan Desert and is not a recreational facility but rather an infrastructure project for water management. The surroundings are open and expansive with clear views of desert and sky, best suited for visitors interested in environmental restoration efforts and desert landscapes.
The reservoir dried up completely in the 1990s, a rare event that exposed the extreme fragility of water balance in this desert region. Since 2000, water has been systematically released to revive the Tarim River and the poplar forests along its banks, slowing desert expansion.
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