Gertse County (), Gêrzê County, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency or Gaize County ()Gaize Xian, geonames.org, retrieved 18 September 2022. is a county located in Ngari Prefecture in the northwest of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, bordering Xinjiang to the north.
Name Gêrzê is the Tibetan word for a special type of local-style dwelling built on the peak of a mountain.
History The area was originally inhabited by nomadic tribes.
In the aftermath of the annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China in the early 1950s, People's Liberation Army troops were stationed in Gêrzê.
On May 3, 1960, the Gêrzê County Committee of the Chinese Communist Party was established. On October 1, 1960, the Gêrzê County government was established.
At 2:01 AM on February 21, 2020, a 5.0 magnitude earthquake struck in Gêrzê County (epicenter: ).
At 2:12 AM on March 10, 2020, a 5.0 magnitude earthquake struck in Gêrzê County (epicenter: ) followed by a 3.7 magnitude and a 3.4 magnitude aftershock. No casualties were reported.
On May 8, 2020, eight suspects were arrested and eighty-nine antelope skins were confiscated in connection with reported Tibetan antelope poaching in the county.
Geography Gêrzê County is bordered to the north by Keriya County (Yutian) in Hotan Prefecture (Hetian), Xinjiang and to the west by Rutog County. There are numerous lakes in Gêrzê County, notably Tong Tso. Thermal springs in Gêrzê County include Lugu (; ; altitude ), Nagezhong (; ; altitude ) and Yarlhaingari (; ; altitude ).
Climate Gêrzê County has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSk), with strong dry-winter subalpine (Köppen: Dwc) tendencies.
Administrative divisions Gêrzê county is divided into 1 town and 6 townships:
Name Chinese Hanyu Pinyin Tibetan WylieTown Gêrzê Town Townships Oma Township Shenchen Township Marmê Township Dongco Township Gomo Township Chabug Township
Demographics
, the residents of the county were Tibetan. In 1999, the population of the county was 16,623.
Economy The main economic activity in Gêrzê County is animal husbandry which includes the raising of yak, dzo, sheep, goats, and horses. The county also has wild yak, wild donkeys, wild sheep, bears and Tibetan antelope.
Transportation Nagqu–Ngari Highway ()
Historical maps Historical maps including Gêrzê:
See also Chang Tang Nature Reserve
References