Yangbajain (also spelled Yangbajing; Chinese: 羊八井; pinyin: Yángbājǐng) is a town approximately 87 kilometers (54 mi) north-west of Lhasa, halfway to Damxung in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The town lies just south of the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains, in an upland lush green valley surrounded by the tents of nomads with grazing yak and sheep populating the hillside. It is the site Yangpachen Monastery, which was historically the seat of the Shamarpas of Karma Kagyü and the Yangbajing International Cosmic Ray Observatory.

Yangbajain
Tibetan transcription(s)
 • Tibetanཡངས་པ་ཅན།
 • Wylie transliterationyangs pa can
 • pronunciation in IPA[jaŋpatɕɛ̃]
 • official transcription (PRC)Yangbajain
 • THDLYangpachen
 • other transcriptionsYangpachän
Chinese transcription(s)
 • Traditional/Simplified羊八井
 • PinyinYángbājǐng
Yangpachen Valley
Yangpachen Valley
Yangbajain is located in Tibet
Yangbajain
Yangbajain
Location within Tibet Autonomous Region
Coordinates: 30°5′N 90°33′E / 30.083°N 90.550°E / 30.083; 90.550
CountryChina
RegionTibet Autonomous Region
PrefectureLhasa
CountyDamxung County
Population
 • Major Nationalities
Tibetan
 • Regional dialect
Tibetan language
Time zone+8

Geothermal field

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The area is famous for the Yangbajain Geothermal Field, which has been harnessed to produce electricity for the capital Lhasa. There is a thermoelectric power plant on the edge of the Yangbajain field covering 20–30 square kilometers.[1] The power plant was established in 1977, and was the first development of geothermal power not only in Tibet but in the whole of China.

The Yangbajain hot springs field is at an elevation of 4,290 to 4,500 metres (14,070 to 14,760 ft)[2] which makes it the highest elevation set of hot springs in China, and possibly the world.[3] The highest temperature inside the drilling hole is 125.5°C.[4]

Holy Medical Spring Resort

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The Holy Medical Spring Resort has both two indoor swimming pools and one outdoor swimming pool, all filled with hot springs water.[4] Bathing is allowed at an elevation of 4200 m AMSL, likely making it the highest swimming pool in the world.

 
geothermal power station in Yangbajain
 
Railway about 20 kilometres north of the town

Yangbajing International Cosmic Ray Observatory

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The YBJ International Cosmic Ray Observatory (羊八井国际宇宙线观测站) is located in the Yangbajing valley of the Tibetan highland, a site chosen for its high elevation at 4300 meters above sea level.[5] Collaborating institutes includes the INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare) and various Chinese and Japanese universities.[6] [7] The KOSMA 3-m submillimeter telescope has been relocated to a nearby site and renamed CCOSMA.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Geography
  2. ^ Wan, Zhijun; Zhao, Yangsheng; Kang, Jianrong (2005). "Forecast and evaluation of hot dry rock geothermal resource in China". Renewable Energy. 30 (12): 1831–1846. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2005.01.016.
  3. ^ Yangbajing Archived 2016-01-10 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b 安才旦 (2003). Travel guide to Tibet of China. China Intercontinental Press. p. 28. ISBN 9787508503745. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
  5. ^ "羊八井国际宇宙线观测站主页". 高能所网. 2005-09-26. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  6. ^ "The ARGO-YBJ Experiment". INFN. 2008-12-03. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  7. ^ "The Tibet ASgamma Collaboration". ICRR. 2008-02-02. Retrieved January 29, 2009.

30°5′N 90°33′E / 30.083°N 90.550°E / 30.083; 90.550