黄土高原

　　黄土高原面积约40万平方千米，是中国的第三大高原，平均海拔在1,000～2,000米，绝大部分的地面覆盖50～80米厚的黄土。

　　在如此大的面积之上，覆盖这么厚的黄土，是世界上任何地区都无法比拟的，是大自然创造的一个奇迹。

　　黄土地貌

　　黄土高原，千沟万壑。壮观的土柱、奇特的峰丛，以及洞和民族风情，都吸引各地的游客。

　　黄土高原的水土流失非常严重，大量的黄土被雨水冲刷到黄河里，使黄河水中含有大量的泥沙，也使高原表面形成许多沟谷。科学家们的研究结果告诉我们，黄土本身质地疏松，对流水侵蚀的抵抗力极弱，而黄土高原的降水又多为暴雨，侵蚀力非常强。加上不合理的土地利用，滥垦滥伐等人为因素的破坏，更加剧了水土流失。目前，中国政府正通过退耕还林、退耕还草等措施来治理黄土高原上的水土流失。

　　The Loess Plateau

　　With an area of about 400,000 km2 and an average altitude of between 1,000 ?2,000 m, the Loess Plateau is the third largest plateau in China and is mostly covered by a 50 ?80 m-thick layer of loess, which is incomparable in the world and a miracle of nature.

　　Geomorphology of Loess

　　The Loess Plateau has millions of gullies. The splendid loess pillars, peculiar peaks, cave dwellings and folk customs attract tourists from everywhere.

　　But the plateau has suffered from a serious loss of water and land erosion. Much of the loess is flushed away into the Yellow River by rain, filling it with mud and sand and carving out many gullies as it is carried away towards the sea. Research shows that exposed to thunderstorms, the porous loess can hardly avoid becoming eroded by the flowing water. This has been exacerbated by man-made devastation such as unreasonable land utilization and excessive deforestation. Now, the Chinese government is taking measures for reforesting some of the cultivated land and planting grass to control the loss of water and erosion.