The cliffs are made of limestone. Before the Dam was built the water level went up and down with the seasons. During the dry months the water was so low that “ trekkers” would pull the boats up the gorge over the rocky stream bed. Even now with the Dam, the water level still changes with the seasons but it never goes dry. You can see the water marks on the sides of the cliffs.
We disembarked on floating docks to the sounds of a Chinese performance. The music bounced off the cliff walls and became a “Rock Concert” ( no pun intended)
The sides are terraced with fields of oranges which we all eat at Christmas. The small huts on the cliffs are the family cemeteries.
This afternoon our ship sailed through Qutang Gorge, the last of the Three Gorges. It is the narrowest and the shortest. The rock formations and the visible coloured striations make this a geologist's paradise.
Most of the people who lived here were relocated........but one older couple in their seventies came back to return to their old lifestyle. They are the only people who live here now. You can see their small farm sitting on the edge. Needless to say they raise mountain goats!!!! They can only reach their home by water.
The "gorgeous Gorges" scenery make a perfect backdrop for a selfie
As we sailed through the last Gorge the final cliff is the steepest and is the picture that appears on the Chinese 10 yuan bank note.
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