A Wetland at the Roof of Three Great Rivers

A Wetland at the Roof of Three Great Rivers is an original illustration set in Sanjiangyuan, Qinghai, China. It lies in the subtropics, where the climate is tundra — too cold for trees.

An immense treeless alpine meadow is stitched with narrow winding streams and dozens of shallow blue meltwater ponds. A small herd of Tibetan wild asses crosses the open turf, and low rounded snow-covered mountains form a distant rim beneath the enormous sky.

Why does a cold high plateau contain so many winding streams and shallow meltwater ponds?

Snow, glaciers, frozen ground, and high-elevation wetlands store water across the Sanjiangyuan plateau and release it gradually into headwater channels. Gentle relief makes runoff spread into meanders, marshes, and ponds instead of cutting one deep valley, creating crucial habitat for Tibetan wildlife. The saturated meadow mosaic, broad treeless horizon, wild asses, and modest snowy ranges mark the source region feeding the Yellow, Yangtze, and Lancang rivers.

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