Global geopark in Tanzania revived with Chinese aid

陈小将

One day at 3 am in September 2023, over 50 people, out of breath, gathered at the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano in the northern part of the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark in Arusha, Tanzania, to witness a marvel — molten lava, as clear as melted gold, flowing through cracks in the crater. Steam mixed with the orange-red lava and the black volcanic ash, creating a thick "river of fire".

These Chinese and Tanzanian nationals, feeling the scorching heat and smelling the strong sulfur in the air, had been climbing for more than seven hours. The climb, with an altitude gain of nearly 3,000 meters and a 45-degree incline, had pushed them to their physical limits.

Their work, the geoheritage survey of the volcano crater, as part of the reconstruction project undertaken by the Chinese government to assist in the development of Tanzania's first and only global geopark, had to be done before dawn. Once sunlight hits, the lava in the crater gradually turns gray, resembling an ordinary muddy river.

And for this route alone, the geological workers had climbed four times to obtain data on the geological heritage sites and plan sightseeing and scientific expedition routes for the area.

From nearly being excluded from the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network to having its construction progress fully recognized, the revival of the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark — the first geopark built with China's foreign aid — has fully demonstrated China's wisdom of empowerment through green development and technology, as well as its philosophy of harmony between humans and nature.