Caves in Zhangjiajie National Park, famed for their breathtaking beauty, have unfortunately become a dumping ground, prompting local authorities to take action.
Mountains of Trash Overshadow Natural Beauty in China’s ‘Avatar’ Park
Mountains of Trash Overshadow Natural Beauty in China’s ‘Avatar’ Park
Recent cleanup efforts initiated after viral videos expose waste problem in Zhangjiajie.
The majestic sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie in central China, celebrated for their striking beauty and the inspiration for the alien landscapes in the hit movie “Avatar,” have recently fallen victim to an unsightly issue: piles of trash. Videos shared by cave explorers, showcasing the disturbing heaps of waste in the park, have sparked outrage online and led to a significant cleanup operation.
In a response to the mounting criticism, authorities in Cili County, Hunan Province, have reported that they removed a staggering 51 metric tons of trash from two caves as of Wednesday. The situation reportedly began a decade ago when villagers started using the caves for waste disposal, including trash and pig manure, after the county imposed a ban on waste burning.
Environmental activist and cave explorer Xiaofugege highlighted the alarming state of the caves, recalling that trash was stacked as high as seven or eight stories. Initially mistaking the dark-stained limestone for coal, he was taken aback by the extent of the contamination. Local officials have conducted inspections on about 200 caves, discovering that nearly two-thirds are tainted, although they assure residents the drinking water remains safe.
In an effort to rectify the situation, the county has suspended four officials and is investigating 12 livestock farms for the illegal discharge of wastewater. However, cleanup operations faced setbacks after toxic gases were detected in the caves, leading to halts in crane-assisted trash removal.
Environmental degradation remains a persistent issue across China, exemplified by previous incidents, including a massive chromium dumping in Yunnan that poisoned local water sources, and in Guizhou, where sewage has contaminated waterways and numerous caves.
Zixu Wang and Tiffany May contribute to this ongoing report about environmental issues within the region, emphasizing the delicate balance between natural beauty and human impact.
In a response to the mounting criticism, authorities in Cili County, Hunan Province, have reported that they removed a staggering 51 metric tons of trash from two caves as of Wednesday. The situation reportedly began a decade ago when villagers started using the caves for waste disposal, including trash and pig manure, after the county imposed a ban on waste burning.
Environmental activist and cave explorer Xiaofugege highlighted the alarming state of the caves, recalling that trash was stacked as high as seven or eight stories. Initially mistaking the dark-stained limestone for coal, he was taken aback by the extent of the contamination. Local officials have conducted inspections on about 200 caves, discovering that nearly two-thirds are tainted, although they assure residents the drinking water remains safe.
In an effort to rectify the situation, the county has suspended four officials and is investigating 12 livestock farms for the illegal discharge of wastewater. However, cleanup operations faced setbacks after toxic gases were detected in the caves, leading to halts in crane-assisted trash removal.
Environmental degradation remains a persistent issue across China, exemplified by previous incidents, including a massive chromium dumping in Yunnan that poisoned local water sources, and in Guizhou, where sewage has contaminated waterways and numerous caves.
Zixu Wang and Tiffany May contribute to this ongoing report about environmental issues within the region, emphasizing the delicate balance between natural beauty and human impact.
