Horsemen prepare for a local race in Quamalai. Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 05/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
Cattle graze in the plains.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 04/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
An old building covered in prayer flags in the hills.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 04/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
Two women in traditional dress stop along the road from Yushu to Qumalai. Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 04/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
A woman stands in the street in in Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 04/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
A horse race spectators poses for a picture.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 05/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
Prayer flags on the hill above Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 05/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
Dzenmei Trithok a conservation refugee had to leave his traditional pastures as part of a government push to relocate nomads in areas that were turning to desert. Now he finds it still a problem to find water.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 04/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
Pikas eat the grass making it harder to find good pasture for cattle.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 05/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
Dust clouds along the Qumalai road.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 05/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
A young boy in traditional dress on the streets of Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 05/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
A Buddhist monk asks for donations in traditional Tibetan dress in the streets of Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 06/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
A young man with red scarf in the streets of Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 06/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
A couple speak to each other in traditional Tibetan dress in the streets of Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 06/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
Pool tables outside in the streets of Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 06/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
A portrait of a man in in the streets of Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 06/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
A Muslim man talks with Tibetans in the streets of Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 06/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
A family in traditional Tibetan clothing on the back of a van pulled by a motorbike in the streets of Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 06/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
Women and children in traditional Tibetan dress in the streets of Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 06/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
Two men pose for the camera in the streets of Qumalai.Ground temperatures have slowly risen in Qumalai county so a permanent frozen layer of soil just beneath the ground has melted away. The permafrost had acted to hold water near the surface allowing the grasslands to thrive but without it, the rain drains away leaving no water for the grass to feed on. The area is home to the sources of three of Asia’s great rivers, the Yangzi, the Yellow and the Mekong. Any ecological catastrophe here would affect hundreds of communities downstream. 06/09/2013, Qumalai, China.
