Monday, 20 April 2009
Fishin' together
The Nam Ngum Dam, 90 km north of Vientiane, is a hydroelectric dam on the Nam Ngum river, a major tributary of the Mekong in Laos. The dam was financed with foreign assistance and completed in 1971 (two turbines with a capacity of 30 megawatts); the capacity was extended in 1975. approx. 70 – 80% of the electricity it generates being exported to Thailand. Fishing is now an important means of livelihood for many people living along the lake, many of whom lost their original means of subsistence when the area was flooded, and had to be resettled.
Photo taken from my bus window on our way from Vientiane to Vangviang. I removed the window reflections with PS. It was approx 7 hour bus ride. We passed endless numbers of villages, bamboo huts, rice paddies and banana trees, all surrounded by the mystique of low-lying clouds on a hazy day. We paused only to honk at water buffalo or goats standing on the road. For the next 3 1/2 hours, we slowly climbed north into the highlands, passing through beautiful valleys and ridges of tropical lush vegetation. At the end of the day the sun came throught and the sunset's were amazing. The breathtaking scenery was unlike anything I have ever seen.
De Nam Ngum Dam, 90 km ten noorden van Vientiane, is een hydro-elektrische dam op de Nam Ngum rivier. De grootste dam in Laos. De dam werd in 1971 met buitenlandse hulp gefinancierd en heeft twee turbines met een capaciteit van 30 megawatts; de capaciteit werd in 1975 verhoogd. Ongeveer 70 – 80% van de elektriciteit wordt uitgevoerd naar Thailand. Vissen is nu een belangrijk voor het levensonderhoud van de vele mensen die langs het meer leven. Ze moesten naar de komst van de dam zich opnieuw vestigen toen hun leefgebied overstroomd werd.
