Long tree corridors in Stavropol Krai, Russia?

Hey guys,

I accidentally stumbled across a structure in Stavropol Krai in the northern Caucasus. It appears as four parallel planted lines of trees that cross the area for about 300 km. I came to think that these may be measures to combat desertification. I found some research about desertification in the whole Kuma–Manych Depression so it is plausible. Using historical imagery I could see that the tree lines were planted pre-1984. At its southern tip the structure extends into Karachay-Cherkessia, but 80% of it lie in Stavropol.

The placemark is located at the southernmost point. The northernmost point is close to the town of Vozdvizhenskoye.

The second placemark shows a similar structure in northern Nigeria, also with four parallel line of trees. Similarly to the Russia example they are around 250m away from each other. This may be a best practice model to fight encroaching deserts...

Any idea/comment/suggestion?

Attachments:

four parallel tree lines.kmz (720 B)

anti desertification Azare Nigeria.kmz (718 B)

yeah - many more examples of man's fight against desert sand with plants!

my special favorites are these great, plantated, floral patterns from Ordos, China. 

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thanks for the good example site from Nigeria, where it seems they also try to save periodic waterflow-beds with shrubs and trees from deflation! 

more stunning views of parallel tree corridors around Karkarna >>12.7527257, 8.5097871<< GMaps link

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your spotting in Russia is about the "Great Plan for the Transformation of Nature" proposed by Joseph Stalin to develop level of agricultural output in the USSR.

"And we defeat drought!"

By Viktor Govorkov - Famine in the Soviet Union 1946-49, Public Domain, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84801346

another contemporary poster:

source (rus.)

links to all essential sources are already given here on board and you find them in this thread.


Best!
G

Fascinating source material, syzygy. I wonder how many men died of overwork and hunger on that project.