Chapter 828

In biology, the oasis has proven to be a refuge for some extremely rare and endangered species. For example, researchers have discovered a small reptile called the spotted brittle lizard, which was previously thought to be extinct.

In addition, some unique plant species have shown unusual biological characteristics in adapting to extreme droughts and short flood seasons.

In order to protect this precious natural heritage, in 1978, the Australian government officially designated George Crater and its internal oasis as a national nature reserve.

Strict access control and scientific research activity regulations have been implemented to ensure that the natural environment and ecological balance of this area are not destroyed.

After entering the 1990s, the Australian National Academy of Sciences and other reliable European and American institutions faced unprecedented challenges in exploring the huge oasis in the center of George Crater.

Although previous discoveries have greatly stimulated the interest and desire of the scientific community to explore, however, due to the current level of technology, most scientific research teams have been significantly restricted from in-depth exploration of this remote and inaccessible oasis.

Although human technology has made significant progress in many fields, it still has obvious limitations in remote detection and material transportation.

Without drones or advanced remote sensing equipment like Tierra had before the crossing, scientists could not easily monitor or explore the internal environment of the oasis in the remote and harsh conditions of the George Crater.

Moreover, since the central oasis is located in the deepest part of the crater, surrounded by vast deserts and rugged terrain, there are no roads or other easy ways to enter. Therefore, to conduct scientific research in the oasis, the expedition team must rely on livestock or take a long and difficult hike, which is a huge challenge for the logistics of personnel and equipment.

Heavy equipment is often unable to be transported to the research area, which seriously limits the scope and depth of scientific research activities.

In addition, the communication technology of this era is far less developed than that of Tierra before the crossing, especially in this kind of long-distance trek in an unfamiliar environment-

Anyone who falls behind may become the last time they see each other in this life.

In this era, the death and disappearance rate of personnel in the expedition team, especially this kind of field expedition team, is extremely high.

This is also why Professor Cardwell strongly opposed Tierra's expedition at the beginning.

But in the end, he couldn't persuade Tiera, so Professor Cardwell had to let Tiera, the big money sponsor, go into the mountain with him.

However, Professor Cardwell led the team, followed by Tiera and Algenis Mathis, and then the other members of the scientific expedition team.

It was equivalent to Tiera being surrounded by them, as if they were afraid that Tiera would get lost.

Although Tiera felt that there was no need for this situation, he was too lazy to explain it at this stage, and just smiled and acquiesced.

After entering the corridor, Professor Wu Cardwell found that the passage was narrower and more tortuous than expected, the light gradually dimmed, and the air was filled with dampness and the smell of ancient soil.

The walls of the entrance were covered with dark green moss.

After passing through the depressing narrow entrance and the dozens of meters of road behind, they arrived at a slightly wider passage-

After overcoming the initial difficulties, Professor Wu Cardwell and his team entered a wide passage that was obviously artificially excavated.

The scene here formed a sharp contrast with the narrow passage formed naturally before.

The walls of the artificially blasted passage are made of rough rocks. These rocks appear somewhat irregular due to the effect of explosives. The cross-section of the rock layer is vaguely visible, showing traces of geological age. The gray and dark brown colors add a bit of primitive feeling to this space.

Every few meters, there is a thick wooden stake implanted in the cave wall. They are very irregular, but without exception, they play an important role in supporting the entire cave structure.

These stakes are different. Some are old and covered with thick moss on the surface. The color changes from emerald green to rotten dark brown, while others look newer and the wood is still original light yellow.

As the passage goes deeper, the natural light gradually dims, and the members of the scientific expedition team have to turn on the flashlights in their hands.

The light casts a long shadow on the rough rock surface, which complements the dark green moss on the cave wall, creating a deep and mysterious atmosphere. The dampness in the air and the smell of ancient soil are stronger, and it seems that you can smell the taste of time, making people feel as if they have stepped into another time and space.

In this oppressive narrow passage, the scientific expedition team moved forward slowly, and everyone's breathing and footsteps were almost the only sounds in this dim space.

The team members adjusted the lights in their hands from time to time, and the beams penetrated the dense air, sweeping across the moist rock walls and moss-covered wooden stakes.

The dim light left swaying shadows on the stone walls, adding a layer of uncertainty and mystery.

Due to the narrow passage, the team members had to line up in a line and keep a careful distance from each other to avoid causing unnecessary rock slides or touching loose geological structures.

Professor Wucardwell, who led the team in front, occasionally stopped and directed the team members to record samples of specific geological layers.

Although they were an ecological expedition team, it did not mean that the samples of these strata were useless.

In the long run, this stratum sample can be used to exchange information with other research groups of the scientific expedition team. In the near future, it can be sent for chemical analysis or animal feces analysis. The data obtained is almost enough for a master's degree student to graduate.

The further you go, the more damp and fishy the air is, which is obviously caused by the lack of ventilation for a long time.

On the way, the rustling of small animals occasionally breaks the silence. Whenever this happens, the biologists in the team will slow down excitedly and use night vision cameras to try to observe or record these precious natural creatures.

As they continue to move forward, every time they pass a wooden pile, Professor Wucardwell will carefully illuminate the rough wooden surface with a flashlight to look for any signs that may indicate structural instability.

He carefully checks every detail to confirm whether each wooden pile is firmly supporting the weight of the cave.

After making sure everything is safe, he will issue instructions to the students following him, asking them to record the number and condition of each wooden pile. These records will be collated and reported to the Australian Wildlife Management Authority so that necessary repairs and maintenance can be carried out in a timely manner to ensure that this man-made passage remains reliable and safe in the future.