Strange Rivers of China: Never Freezing in Northern Siberia's Minus 40 Degrees
At zero degrees, water gradually turns into ice blocks, this is a common-sense everyone knows. But if I tell you that in the north of China, there is a river where it often reaches minus forty degrees in winter, but this river never freezes, would you not find it quite magical? Today, Zhao Shao is about to lead everyone to see the flowing in the Greater Hingganling Mountains – the Unfrozen River – Haraha River.
Haraha Unfrozen River is beside our accommodation, very close. And my friend and I made an appointment to come here to watch a sunrise and have an alpine covenant. When the first ray of sunshine in the morning shone on this land, the whole Unfrozen River seemed to be awakened, the gurgling stream did not succumb to the icy winter in Inner Mongolia, but rather enjoyed it, the frosty weather seemed to stimulate its will, freely flowing in the river.
Haraha River originates from the Darbin Lake of Alshan, passes through Duizhu Lake, and then sinks into the Stone Pond Forest, finally flows into Mongolia through the Three Pools Canyon. The Haraha River in the Alshan basin sometimes flows on the ground, sometimes sinks underground; sometimes turbulent, sometimes soothing, and also transforms into star-like and chessboard lakes and ponds, with ever-changing characteristics.
The season we came to is the transition between autumn and winter, so many rivers in Inner Mongolia have not yet frozen. Hearing our friend, a herdsman, say that when it's the Three Nine Frosts in here, even a bucket of hot water splashed into the air would instantly turn into ice, let alone the big rivers. At that time, every river will be frozen, only the Haraha River's section has a kind of magic and becomes the only one that dances in the winter, and the cold cannot make it surrender, flowing with hot water, and the stream will never freeze for a long time.
It's said that all life's nurturing unfolds along rivers, and Haraha River also has the title of 'Mother River' of Greater Hingganling. Because of this river's existence, animals, plants, and people here have a pure source of water. This river gives life and soul to the Alshan volcanic ruins.
Walking down the slope, we arrived at the bank of the Unfrozen River. It's not as vast as the Dunhuang Lake, nor as magnificent as Lake Qinghai, nor as fantastical as Kanas, but her lively ripples, light and flowing water, are like a lively and enthusiastic young girl, beautiful and elegant but also restrained and taciturn, making everyone who comes here linger.
We sat by the bank and looked quietly, sometimes looking into the distance, surveying the mountains. Everything around was so quiet, I didn't dare to take a deep breath, fearing that a deep breath would disturb this tranquility. In the distance, the water reflected the blue sky and white clouds, the blue water was also reflected, becoming especially clear. You can see the aquatic plants in the water, and the fish are still playing around in the aquatic plants, alternating between blue and green, as if the sky and the earth are tightly connected. I don't know whether it's the fish moving the aquatic plants or the aquatic plants disturbing the fish, but it's like a watercolor painting of water, full of interest.
The temperature is now around minus ten degrees, and the water stream is still flowing endlessly, the aquatic plants sway with the ripples, and the water vapor rises on the surface of the water with the rays of the rising sun, shining and beautiful, especially beautiful.
There was a thin layer of water mist condensed on the lake surface because there are a lot of geothermal springs under this section of the water, and you can only see this beautiful scenery in winter. Not far away, a group of water birds flew from nowhere and landed on the water, leaving a long ripple behind, and then the whole water surface returned to calm. Close your eyes, you feel like you've entered a vague illusion, far away from the dust, far away from the red dust, far away from the world, as if there was only myself in the world, and the boredom in my chest was cleared with a breath.
In autumn, the golden hue combined with the remaining snow is like diamonds embedded in gold, shining and dazzling. On the beach, a group of cattle that can only be seen in Alshan appeared in our sight, their fur was extremely thick to protect themselves from the extreme cold of Alshan, fortunately, we also wore thermal jackets, which were much more convenient than their bulky bodies. They were drinking the pure water of the Unfrozen River and eating the natural gifts of Alshan, all of this was a harmonious coexistence of nature. This beautiful appearance of nature is most touching, I cried; this river, the first time met, loved so deeply, so unstoppable. I really thank life for all the encounters, so memorable.
Do you come to this river? Welcome to leave a comment in the comment area to discuss.
