万里长城的地理界线意义

长城,不仅是中华民族古老文化的象征,而且是一条实际存在的重要地理界线。历代长城的布设都是以自然地理环境为基础,其走向与我国半湿润与干旱气候分界线基本一致。因此,长城也就成为我国农区和牧区分界线的标志。长城的延伸或回退,基本上反映了农区与牧区的扩张或收缩。从政治地理的角度来考察长城。可以认为,它是我国历史上各民族政治力量相互对峙、较量形成的"力"的平衡带,长城,一方面发挥了分隔两个政治单元的功能,它们延伸或收缩在一定程度上反映了两种力量对比的变化;另一方面,在先进与落后两种势力的对撞中.客观上却促进了相互间经济和文化的交流,促进了不同民族的融合。今日长城作为领土扩张和防御的军事设施作用已不复存在。但是长城在地理上的许多界限指标意义仍然存在,它依然是许多地理事物的敏感地区。

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GREAT WALL AS A GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARY

The Great Wall is not only the symbol of the ancient Chinese culture but also an actural and significant geographic boundary. The arrangements of the wall in past dynasties are based on physiographic conditions, and are Just Consistent with the demarcation line between semi-humid and arid climates in the country. Therefore, the Great Wall becomes an indicator of the demarcation line between the two areas. The extension and retreat of the wall generally reflect the expansion and shrinkage of farming and animal husbandary areas. From the viewpoint of political geography, the Great Wall can be regarded as the balance belt of "forces" where the political powers of different nationalities historically stood facing each other and had repeated trials of strength.On one hand, the man-made wall of 10000 Li had the function of separating two political units; to some extent, the extension and retreat of the wall reflect the changes of relative strength of the two sides. On the other hand, the conflicts of the advanced and backward forces objectively promoted the economic and cultural exchanges as well as the national assimilation. Today, the Great Wall had lost its function of military works for territiry expansion and defence, but it is still the significant indicator as a geographic boundary and a sensitive area for many geographic elements.