Lop Nor was a lake in Asia near the Karamakan desert and Tashbulak. The botanical research station was located near the lake. The lake was actually an immense network of shallow lakes and salt marshes that moved with topographic and climatic changes.[2] The watercourses were known to shift rapidly and without warning, making the area difficult to traverse.[3]
There wasn't much plant life in the area, except for some grass, poplars and tamarisks. The climatic conditions were not easy to replicate further north and west, and there were unusual minerals found in the soil.[4] This made it impossible to grow a certain type of rose (R. lopnoriae) anywhere else.[5] A drop of oil from these roses in the eye could reportedly cause visions. However, to traverse the region required a traveller to separate from their dæmon.[6] This journey was called akterrakeh, and required the human to travel by land and the dæmon to travel by water.[7]
When Lyra Silvertongue was twenty, the roses gardens near Lop Nor were set on fire and attacked by mysterous 'men from the mountains'.[8]
Behind the scenes[]
- Lop Nor is a former salt lake that sustained an ancient civilisation on the Silk Road. Sin Kiang is an old romanisation of 'Xinjiang', the modern region where Lop Nor is located. In the 20th century, Lop Nor was referred to as the "Wandering Lake". The lake is now the site of a major potash mining operation.
Appearances[]
- The Secret Commonwealth (Mentioned only)
References[]
- ↑ The Secret Commonwealth, Chapter 27
- ↑ The Secret Commonwealth, Chapter 29
- ↑ The Secret Commonwealth, Chapter 1
- ↑ The Secret Commonwealth, Chapter 9
- ↑ The Secret Commonwealth, Chapter 8
- ↑ The Secret Commonwealth, Chapter 10
- ↑ The Secret Commonwealth, Chapter 20
- ↑ The Secret Commonwealth, Chapter 13