LIFESTYLE
While you can do a lot on the surface of water, Pooja Bhula and Avril-Ann Braganza show you what lies beneath.
A Tale of Two Cities
Lion City in China
In 1959, Shicheng(Lion City), which was over 1,300 years old, was purposely submerged under Qiandao Lake for the construction of the Xin’an River Hydropower Station. This city was once the center of politics, economics and culture of Sui’an County in that area. The submerged city was forgotten for more than 40 years, until 2001 when Qiu Feng, a local tourism official discussed ways to provide entertainment on Qiandao Lake with a Beijing-based diving club. Divers discovered the entire town, intact and submerged for decades.
Image courtesy: Sri Sanjev
265 memorial arches, walls, wooden beams and stairs of ancient house are ruins that can be seen on weekend trips organised by a dive operator in Shanghai to explore the submerged city.
Source: www.amusingplanet.com, www.china.org.cn, ww.weburbanist.com
Cleopatra’s Alexandria in Egypt
Believed to be submerged by earthquakes and tidal waves more than 1,600 years ago, is the ancient Egyptian city of Alexandria. In 1998, a team of marine archaeologists stumbled across the ruins off the shores of the modern-day Alexandria and found columns, sphinxes, statues, temples, coins, other everyday objects, the foundations of a palace that could have belonged to Cleopatra, and the black granite head of Ptolemy XV, the son of Cleopatra and Caesar.
Image courtesy: Kevin Revolinski (www.TheMadTravelerOnline.com)
The sphinx representing Cleopatra’s father, Ptolemy XII, was found well preserved in the eastern harbor of Alexandria. Recently, divers have also unearthed some of the major scenes from the lives of Cleopatra and Marc Antony. The Egyptian government wants to leave most of the discoveries submerged in order to create an underwater museum.
Source: www.rabbithole2.com, ww.weburbanist.com
Going the Mayan Length
Sistema Ox Bel Ha, Mayan for ‘three paths of water’, is a cave system located in Quintana Roo, on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. eGuide Pty Ltd, an Australian registered company, says that at present Sistema Ox Bel Ha is the longest of any system that is underwater and is also ranked fifth for length, among all caves in the world.
But as new caves are being discovered in Sistema Ox Bel Ha and other underwater cave systems around Mexico, the official length of the systems can change.
According to National Geographic, the system is an important source of freshwater for the region, but human development at the surface threatens to pollute the aquifer. eGuide Pty Ltd mentions that explorers of the cave will find unexpected sights of stalactites, stalagmites and other cave formations as well as fossils in large caverns and chambers that are all submerged. The popular tourist destination of Cancun is also located in the Quintana Roo and is the arrival point for many looking to go to Sistema Ox Bel Ha.
Source: www.caves.org, www.nationalgeographic.com, www.eguidetravel.com
Southern Sea’s Rainforest
When we think of coral reefs in India, Lakshadweep Island and Andaman and Nicobar Islands come to mind. But the Gulf of Mannar located in Tamil Nadu, extending from Rameswaram Island in the north to Kanyakumari in the south has shallow reef areas that are safe for divers and can be interesting to explore through snorkelling and scuba diving.
The gulf has 117 coral species; its 21 uninhabited islands and surrounding shallow coastal waters covering an area of 560 sq. km were declared Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park in 1986. While diving is not possible in the national park area, there are several good reef sites located outside it with potential for marine tourism. In fact, the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) has introduced glass bottom eco tourism near Mandapam and Rameswaram(with little success as there is poor visibility during the rough season from April to September). However, during the calm season (October to March), diving activities can be promoted.
Image courtesy: Edward JK Patterson
Previously, coral in the Gulf of Mannar had mainly degraded because of mining and destructive fishing practices, but today, besides destructive fishing practices, discharge of untreated domestic sewage, invasion of marine exotic seaweed and the elevated sea surface temperature caused by climate change are threats. If tourism in the form of scuba diving or snorkelling is planned in this region, there should be more focus on coral rehabilitation and artificial reefs outside national park areas. These can then be utilized for eco tourism.
Source: As told to Pooja Bhula by Edward JK Patterson
Priyanka Chopra gives major Rangeela vibes as she channels her 'inner Urmila Matondkar'
Jamie Lever mimicking Govinda's wife Sunita Ahuja will start your day with laughter
Watch: Priyanka Chopra lands in Mumbai days after brother’s wedding, helps a person on streets by…
'They have a lot more money': Trump questions USD 21 million fund for voter turnout in India
Bank Holiday Today: Banks to remain closed on February 19 in THIS state due to...
Donald Trump signs executive order to expand access to IVF
Meet woman, who left her medical career for husband who became one of India's richest men
Meet IPS officer, who has been demoted due to his 2nd marriage; here's why
How Elon Musk became world's richest man with Rs 33 lakh crore business empire
DNA TV Show: Conflicting data on Delhi station stampede reveals communication gap
WATCH: Baba Ramdev at 59 takes part in race with horse, netizens say 'Olympics me chalo'
Delhi woman turns auto driver to support daughter, her story goes viral
Viral video declares Rajat Patidar ‘Captain of Captains’ after RCB names him Skipper, here's why
Indian Army havildar loses teen son, saves others’ lives by...
WPL 2025: Smriti Mandhana creates history during RCB vs DC match, becomes first player to cross...
Ronit Roy says he was the first choice for Pardes but he was replaced by...because...
‘Papa killed mummy': 4-year-old's drawing creates suspicion over woman’s alleged suicide
Sunil Mittal gets Rs 8486 crore after selling....; still seeks funds for newer...
How a low cost floor cleaning robot revolutinising home automation – Check details
Harvard Alum Aayush Puri: Move back to India, the future is here
Vicky Kaushal reveals how his fight scene with lion in Chhaava was shot: 'We were all so...'
Shabana Azmi holds her ears, issues public apology to Dabba Cartel co-star Jyotika; here's why
Meet Arvind Kejriwal’s daughter, who cracked IIT-JEE Advanced, went to IIT Delhi, now working as...
'Kohli never said a word': Pakistan's Haris Rauf on Virat Kohli hitting sixes against him in...
Bengaluru to witness hottest summer says IMD, recorded season’s highest temperature at...
Ranveer Singh to venture in production amid box office slump? Here's the truth
Where to Buy Testosterone in the USA? Top 3 Best Brands of Testosterone Cypionate in 2025
Pregnant woman employee gets Rs 1 crore compensation after being fired through...
ELECRAMA 2025: Powering the Future of Energy
Steroids for Sale in the USA: Buy Steroids Online in 2025
How to Choose Trenbolone for Sale Online? Review of Popular Trenbolone Manufacturers
After disrupting Indian market, Mukesh Ambani takes THIS popular brand to...
Remedium Lifecare Lands Rs 182 Crore Multi-Year Contract: Stock Set for Major Upturn
Former ISRO chief AS Kiran Kumar visits Goenka Temple, expresses hope for successful Mars mission
Anil Ambani's Rs 9831 crore company set to enter NEW space, makes key...
Vladimir Putin's BIG warning to Ukraine, will negotiate only if...
347 rooms, Rs 22400 crore worth: India's most expensive wedding venue is located in...
Woman constable carries baby on duty, RPSF says, 'she serves, she...', video goes viral
'Caught Red-Handed': Cognizant accuses Narayana Murthy's Infosys of stealing THIS secret in...
'Bharat Jodo Vivah': Wedding invite of Jammu's daughter, Kerala's son wows internet
Radhika Apte shares first post after sparking controversy with breast pump photo: 'We are very...'
Pavitra Rishta fame Usha Nadkarni cries inconsolably as she remembers her brother's death, watch
MASSIVE discount on Apple iPhone 16, iPhone 15, check here how to grab this deal
Juhi Chawla takes holy dip at Mahakumbh 2025, calls it 'most beautiful morning in her life'
Deepinder Goyal's Zomato launches first AI product ‘Nugget,’ says will give it for free to…
Champions Trophy 2025: 5 major records that Virat Kohli can break in this tournament
Shweta Basu Prasad says she was bullied on Telugu film set: 'I was called...'
Gujarat: Lion brings traffic to a halt at Bhavnagar-Somnath highway, watch viral video
India's Got Latent row: SC grants interim relief from arrest to Ranveer Allahbadia