The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is scheduled to launch an expedition to Hoh Xil mountain region in western China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the country's largest "uninhabited land" on Sept. 15.

This will be the first ever large-scale scientific expedition to the hinterland of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the first trek all expedition members are to traverse the hinterland of the Hoh Xil mountain area, which averages 5,300 meters above sea level.

Although scientists have conducted researches into the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, much remains unknown to the outside world about the area, including Hoh Xil with an area of 830,000 sq km, the third largest "desolate and uninhabited land" in the world, according to experts.

Many leading Chinese geologists and paleontologist, including five prestigious academicians of CAS, will pitch in the expedition, which is expected to end on Oct. 30. But the whole research project will last three years.

Scientists will enter the uninhabited region to look into such special topics as wildlife, glaciers, frozen soil area, volcanoes, minerals and the formation of the Tibet Plateau in the area.

According to CAS officials, the team will set off from Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and reach the final destination of Golmud in Qinghai Province via a number of other places including boh sil Lake.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2005)