Geology of Shanghai Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Geology of Shanghai - Term Paper Example Upon further study, it has been discovered that â€Å"In the Shanghai area, unconsolidated materials, about 300 meters thick, of alternating marine and continental [material] were deposited on the bedrock during the Quaternary Period† (Jiangang, 2007, p. 21). This provides for quite an array of soil and rock formations present in Shanghai and the surrounding areas. There is, for example, 150 meters of clay soil alone along the delta region. This data also provides the researcher with a living history of the structure of the entire region that explains how life has evolved in the region over time. All of the clay and soil formations have caused at least five aquifers to be created over time. These aquifers are quite flat and thick. They provide for an extensive flow of ground water that continues to this day. These aquifers cover all areas of Shanghai, except for certain parts of the Eastern coast and localized areas along the Whangpoo River (Xu, 2009, p. 481). In essence, nearly every area of Shanghai, if properly resourced and developed, has access to a continual and ground water supply. For the most part, as mentioned, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact date that landforms around Shanghai were created. Because the area is so flat, there are not many rock formations to speak of, other than spots of bedrock. The main geographical feature of the region lies in its system of tributaries and natural canals. This is what has sustained life in the area around Shanghai for thousands of years.