Brief Geography of China

China is a country with numerous rivers. On the territory of China, which occupies over 9.6 million square meters. km, flow the most diverse rivers in length and category, large and small, quiet and stormy, long and short, which, like the industrious Chinese people, increase the wealth of the country, giving it a valuable resource - water. And they all play an extremely important role in soil irrigation, ship navigation, power generation, urban water supply, cultural development, and in many other areas of the country's economy and construction.

If you select rivers by the area of ​​their valley, which exceeds 100 sq. km, then there are 50 thousand such rivers in China. If you select rivers by the area of ​​their valley, which exceeds 1,000 sq. km, there are 1,500 of them in China. The total annual flow of all rivers in China is 2.600 billion cubic meters. m. And if you connect the natural rivers of China into a single chain, then its total length would reach 430 thousand km. In other words, this chain would wrap around the water area 10.5 times. Such famous Chinese rivers as the Yangtze, Huang He, Lancangjiang and Heilongjiang are among the ten largest rivers in the world. China is a country with a vast territory. The geographical location determines the difference in the climates of different regions and the uneven nature of the rivers. According to the different forms of river flow and circulation of water resources, China's rivers are generally divided into the following two categories.

The watershed line between the basin of internal and external rivers begins in the north from the point of contact of the Greater Khingan ridge with the Mongolian border and then stretches southwest along the ridges of Inshan, Helanshan (Alashan), Qilianshan, Bayan-Khara-Ula, Tangla and Kailas and ends at western section of the state border. In addition to the Ordos Plateau, a site on the Sungari-Nenjiang Plain and Lake Yamjoyum-Tso south of the river. Yalutsangbujiang, all areas to the south and east of this line belong to the basins of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. To the northwest of this line lies the basin of internal rivers (with the exception of the Black Irtysh basin).

The rivers in China are characterized by full flow, abundance, rich resources and diversity of water systems to which they belong. Apart from natural rivers, in China there are also many artificial - canals. Among them, the most famous is the Great Chinese Canal "Beijing-Hangzhou", which crosses Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Its total length is 1,801 km, which is ten times the Suez Canal and twenty times the Panama Canal. The construction of this ancient Chinese canal began as early as the 5th century. BC. This is the oldest and longest canal in the world.

Yangtze— the most long river in China

The Yangtze crosses China. It is called the cradle of the Chinese nation, the hearth and home of ancient Chinese culture. It is characterized by full-flowing current, huge length and extraordinary beauty. The Yangtze is the symbol of the Chinese nation. The Yangtze is the longest river in Asia.

On different areas Yangtze wears different names. The main source of the Yangtze is called Totohe (Ulan Muren). The section from the source to Batanhekou is called Tongtianhe (Murui-Us, Ji-Chu), the length is 1.188 km. The section from Batanghekou to Yibin is called Jinshajiang, the river crosses the border of Tibet and Sichuan and runs along the Hengduanshan mountain range. Its length here is 2.308 km. Starting from Yibin, where the Minjiang flows into the river, it is called the Changjiang. In the section from Yizhen to Yangzhou, the river is called the Yangtze.

Depending on various hydrological and geological features, the Yangtze is usually divided into three parts. The upper course is considered to be the part from the source to Yichang of Hubei Province, its length is 4.512 km .; from Yichang to Hukou of Jiangxi province - the middle course, length - 938 km .; from Hukou to the mouth of the Yangtze - lower reaches, length - 850 km. The average annual runoff of the Yangtze is 1,000 billion cubic meters. The Yangtze accounts for a third of China's total runoff. This volume is four times larger than the runoff of the largest river in Europe - the Volga. The relief in the Yangtze Valley is diverse: plateaus and mountainous areas occupy 65.6%, hills - 24%, plains and lowlands - 10.4%.

The Yangtze is the largest river in China. Its total length is 6,380 km. The area occupied by its valley is 1.8 million square meters. km. The origins of the Yangtze are on the slopes of Mount Basudan-Ula, the main peak of the Tanggla mountain range in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Flowing through 11 provinces, cities and autonomous regions such as Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai, the river flows into the East China Sea. The Yangtze basin covers 16 provinces, cities and autonomous regions. It occupies one fifth of the territory of China.

The water system of the Yangtze was formed against a complex geological background. Approximately 200 million years ago, the sea roared in the region of present-day Tibet, Xinjiang, southern Qinghai, western Sichuan, central and western Yunnan, and western Guangxi. Movement earth's crust, which arose in the late Jurassic period and in the early stage Cretaceous, led to the formation of folds of the earth's crust in the Tangla region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. That is how, in the gorges between Kunlun, Bayan-Khara-Ula and Tangla, the Ulan Muren River, the main source of the Yangtze, arose. Under the influence of the Himalayan mountain-building movement at the beginning of the Cenozoic era, the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau was continuously rising. And under the influence of breaks and the intersection of different geological layers in the area of ​​Murui-Usa, Jinshajiang, Minjiang.

Tojiang and Jialingjiang gorges and rivers gradually formed. The beginning of the Tertiary era was accompanied by a warm climate and abundant rains. Under the influence of strong erosion in the mountainous regions along the Yangtze, river currents formed in different geological strips along the river merged into a single large river, gradually connecting with their tributaries. For example, Murui-Us connected with Jinshajiang. And Jialingjiang and Minjiang in the Sichuan depression, merging, connected with the Yangtze. Further, heading east, the river took into its course several more large rivers of the Hunan and Jiangxi provinces.

The climate in the Yangtze Valley is predominantly subtropical, with seasonal winds. There is an abundance of water resources. Rains form 75-80% of the annual runoff, underground sources - 20-25%, a certain percentage is the product of melting glaciers and mountain snow. The Yangtze has many tributaries. 48 tributaries have a basin of 10 thousand square meters. km or more. largest swimming pool near the Jialingjiang River - 160 thousand square meters. km.

The Yangtze has enormous wealth in the form of untapped water resources. The height of the fall from the source to the mouth of the Yangtze is 6,600 meters. The height of the fall on the upper reaches of the Jinshajiang River is 3,300 meters. In many parts of the river, nature provides excellent conditions for the construction of large and medium-sized hydroelectric power plants. The Yangtze is also the most important artery in China's water transport network. The total length of navigation sections is 70 thousand km, which is 70% of the length of the country's river transport lines.

One of China's main grain granaries is located in the Yangtze basin. The catch of freshwater fish in the basin is over 60% of the gross production of fisheries in China. The Yangtze basin is famous for its vast territory and ancient history. On both banks are the most famous cities and historical monuments China. Among them are Shanghai, Wuhan, Chongqing, Chengdu, Nanjing, Suzhou, Kunming and others.

Zhujiang - the result of the confluence of three famous rivers

Zhujiang originally referred to the waterway from Guangzhou to the mouth of the sea near Hukou. Its length is 96 km. Unlike other rivers in China, the Zhujiang has neither a common source, nor a common channel, nor even a common mouth. In fact, this is a combination of four water systems, namely: Xijiang, Beijiang, Dongjiang and Luxihe. The Pearl River is considered the third largest major river in China.

The formation of Xijiang, Beijiang and Dongjiang belongs to the geological period mesozoic era 100 million years ago. The rivers were formed under the influence of the Yangshan geological process. The band of faults, which are directed first from the northeast to the southwest, then from the northwest to the southeast, served as the basis for the formation of the geological structure of the three rivers.

Among these three rivers, the Xijiang is considered to be the longest. Its length is 2.197 km. The basin area is 350 thousand sq. km. It is usually called the main course of the Zhujiang. The main source of the Nanpanjiang originates in the Masyongshan Mountains in Yunnan Province. The river joins Beijiang at Sanshui City in Guangdong Province, then flows into the Zhujiang Delta and from there flows into the South China Sea at Modaomen.

The sources of Beijiang are located in the Dashishan Mountains of Xinfong County, Jiangxi Province and in Moshishen, west of Linwu County, Hunan Province. These sources merge in Shaoguang of Guangdong province and receive the name Beijiang there. The length of the river is 468 km. In Sanshui, Guangdong Province, it turns southeast, then it passes through the Zhujiang Delta and flows into the South China Sea at Hongqili.

Dongjiang has two sources: east and west in Xunwu County and Anyuan County, Jiangxi Province. Merged together in Longchuan County, Guangdong Province, they are called Dongjiang. The lower course of the Dongjiang passes through the Zhujiang Delta. The river flows into the South China Sea at Humen. The length of the river is 523 km. Mountains and hills occupy 94.5% of the total area of ​​the basin, while plains and depressions occupy only 5.5%.

The Zhujiang Basin is located in the tropical and subtropical zone, where strong seasonal winds are often observed. The average annual precipitation is 1,000-2,000 mm, in places 3,000 mm. The average annual flow is 341.2 billion cubic meters. In terms of total runoff, it is second only to the Yangtze and ranks second among the rivers of China.

The Zhujiang basin is characterized by an extraordinary concentration of water resources. According to theoretical estimates, explored, but undeveloped hydraulic capacity reaches 33.35 million kW. The estimated average annual electricity generation is 292.1 billion kWh, which is 5.8% of the country's gross production. In addition to the Han, the basin is inhabited by representatives of 10 national minorities - Zhuang, Miaochan, Yaochan, Buit, Maonan, Yiyan, Liyan, etc. There are also deposits of various non-ferrous metals, such as coal, manganese ores, iron, aluminum, tin, etc. The Zhujiang Valley is also one of the main grain-producing bases of the country, as well as a forestry base and a base for the production of tropical and subtropical crops. Cane sugar production here accounts for half of the country's gross output. It also produces rubber, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, River fish, seafood, etc.

River basin area Zhujiang - 453.69 thousand square meters km, including 442.10 thousand square meters. km fall on Chinese territory. Half of the area is occupied by limestones; karst phenomena are often found here. Among the tourist attractions, one should highlight the ancient Buddhist rocks in Zhaoguang, the picturesque mountains and rivers in Guilin and Yangshuo, the caves and gorges in Zhaoqing, etc.

The Yellow River is the most sandy river in the world.

The Yellow River is the second largest river in China, one of the main centers of ancient Chinese civilization, the cradle of the Chinese nation. At the source of the river, the water is clear as a tear. Its middle course passes through the yellow earth plateau. The tributaries of the Udinghe, Pihe, Weihe carry with them a huge amount of yellow earth masses. Hence the name Huang He, which means "Yellow River". The Huang He is a relatively young river. At an early stage Quaternary period within the basin of the current river, there were only lacustrine shells that were isolated from each other and formed relatively independent inland water systems. With the development of the new movement of the geological structure, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was continuously rising. Folds and breaks appeared on its edges, on the basis of which a multi-stage relief in the form of a terrace later formed. Pre-existing scattered lakes have merged into rivers. And only later, about 100-10 thousand years ago, at the late stage of the Pleistocene epoch, the current river gradually formed with a complete unhindered flow from its sources up to the mouth, where it flows into the sea.

The Yellow River originates on the northern slopes of the Bayan-Khara-Ula ridge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The height of the source above sea level is 4,830 meters. The upper course is considered to be the section from the source to the Togtokh county of the Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia. The length of the section is 3,472 km. There are deep gorges in this area, areas with a high fall height are concentrated here, the water is clear and swift. Large reserves of hydro resources have been confirmed. The middle course is considered to be the section from Togtokh to Mengjin County, Henan Province. Here is an area of ​​sandy soils, water carries with it a huge amount of coarse sand. The length of the middle current is 1.122 km. The section from Mengjin County to the mouth is considered to be the downstream. This is the main alluvial area where the main masses of silt and sand accumulate. The length of the lower reaches is 870 km.

The Yellow River flows through the following provinces and districts: Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Henan and Shandong. It empties into the Bohai Bay near Dongying, Shandong Province. The total length is 5,464 km. The fall height is 4,480 meters. The Yellow River Basin is located in the area with coordinates 32°-42° north latitude and 96°-119° east longitude. The pool area is 795 thousand square meters. km.

The Yellow River flows through a loess plateau. The loess plateau with loose soil and depleted flora has become many deep gorges and steep cliffs along and across this hilly region and is a unique geological species that is almost never found in other parts of the world. Erosion and some artificial factors have led to severe degradation of water and soil in the area.

Every year, the Yellow River throws a huge amount of sand into the lower reaches. The average density of sand masses in water is 37 kg/m3, and during heavy rains it is more than 1,000 kg/m3. That is why it is called the sandiest river in the world. Regular measurements and estimates show that the Yellow River annually transfers 1.6 billion tons of sand from the middle to the lower reaches, as a result of which, geographically, the continent is continuously growing eastward at a rate of 50 square kilometers. km. in year.

The mountains and rivers in the Yellow River basin are of extraordinary beauty. The population of the basin is a quarter of the total population of China. Fertile soil, abundant water resources, deposits of coal, oil, natural gas, ores and the richest tourism resources make the basin a place important with great potential for future development.

The Liaohe is a major river in Northeast China.

Liaohe is the largest river in the south of Dongbei - the Chinese Northeast. The first mention of this river is found in the book "Shanhaijing", written in the era of the Warring States (475-221 BC). At different times, the river had different names: Liaoshui, Dalyaoshui, Qiulyuhe and others.

Liaohe has two sources: eastern and western. The eastern section of Liaohe (Dongliaohe) originates on the western slopes of the Changbaishan Range near Liaoyuan City, Jilin Province. Western Liaohe (Silyaohe) is divided into two sources: southern and northern, Laohahe, originating on the slopes of Guangtoushan Mt. Qilaotu of Pingchuan County, Hebei Province and Shara Muren, starting in Heshigten Aimag, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Eastern and Western Liaohe, after confluence in Guyushu of Changtu County in the north of Liaoning Province, receive the common name Liaohe. In Liaoning, the river passes Tieling and turns southwest, eventually flowing into the Liaodong Bay. The total length is 1,390 km. The Liaohe Basin is located in a temperate zone with abundant seasonal winds. The average annual precipitation is 350-1,000 mm. The average annual flow is 8.9 billion cubic meters. The basin covers about 500 large and small rivers. Among them are 70 rivers with basins of 1,000 sq. km. and more. The main tributaries of the Liaohe are the Hunhe, Taizihe, Qinghe, Zhaoyanhe, Liuhe, Dongliaohe, Zaolaihe, Laohahe, Shara Muren and Xingkai. The source of water replenishment is summer heavy rains.

The total area of ​​the Liaohe basin is 219 thousand square meters. km. It covers Liaoning Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jilin and Hebei Provinces. In the semi-desert steppe of the upper reaches of the Liaohe, the inhabitants are mainly engaged in animal husbandry. On the downstream plains, the population grows crops such as soybeans, wheat, kaoliang, corn, and rice. Rich deposits of minerals, such as coal, oil, iron, magnesium ores, diamond, etc., have been explored in the basin. This is one of the most important industrial bases of our country for the production of petroleum, chemical, metallurgical products and for the production of electricity, mechanical products and building materials.

Heilongjiang - a great international river flowing through the territory of three states

Heilongjiang (Amur) is located in the northeast of our country. In length, it is second only to the Yangtze and the Yellow River and is the third largest river in China. Heilongjiang has two sources - southern and northern. The northern tributary is Shilka (in the upper reaches - Onon), originating from the eastern foot of Mount Khentei in the northern part of Mongolia. The total length is 1,660 km. The pool area is approximately 200 thousand square meters. km. The southern source of Heilongjiang is called Argun (in the upper reaches - Hailar), it originates on the western slopes of the Greater Khingan, flows through Lake Hulun-Nur and turns first to the north, then to the northeast. Further Argun begins to pass along the Sino-Russian border.

The total length is 1,520 km. The pool area is 170 thousand square meters. km. The total length of the Heilongjiang River from its source to its mouth, where it flows into the sea, is 2,850 km. Its upper course from the village of Logu to the mouth of the Zeya is 905 km. Here the river passes between the mountains and flows through narrow caves and gorges. The water is deep and fast. Its middle course is considered to be the section from the mouth of the Zeya to the mouth of the Ussuri. Its length is 994 km. Here the river flows either through the mountainous regions or through the plains. The lower course is the section from the mouth of the Ussuri to the mouth, its length is 930 km. This section of the river flows through the territory of Russia.

The water system of the Heilongjiang River mainly consists of various large and small tributaries. There are only 209 of them. Among them, Shilka, Zeya, Songhuajiang (Sungari) and Ussuri are famous.

The area of ​​the Heilongjiang basin is 1,840 thousand square meters. km, of which 940 thousand sq. km. belong to China. The basin consists of the Ussuri, Songhuajiang, Nenjiang, and other basins. The Heilongjiang basin is located in a temperate and cold zone. The river receives water replenishment mainly from rains and secondarily from snowmelt. Replenishments from rains make up 75-89% of the annual runoff, snow - only 15-20%. Replenishment from underground sources - only 5-8%.

A significant part of the basin is occupied by forests. The basin provides the country with one-third of its logging and timber resources. The plain along the river is characterized by fertile soil, which provides developed agriculture on a large scale. Every year a good harvest of wheat and soybeans is harvested here. The basin also features a complex geological structure. The richest deposits of gold, iron, copper, nickel, cobalt, plutonium, coal, oil and natural gas have already been explored. Rich water resources have also been explored. The expected generation of electricity is over 30 million kW. The basin is home to a huge variety of valuable species of animals. Among them, 9 species are included in the international Red Book. These are the red wolf, the northeastern tiger, the Far Eastern stork, etc. The water management of the basin has great importance in the economy of northeastern China.

Huaihe is a great river in the central plain of China.

Huaihe is one of the main waterways in eastern China. It is located in the middle of two major rivers in China - the Yangtze and the Yellow River. The river is born in the Tongbaishan Mountains in the south of Henan Province. The upper course is considered to be the section from the source to the confluence of the Honghe on the border between the provinces of Henan and Anhui. The length of the section is 360 km. The fall height is 178 meters, which is 90% of the total fall height of Huaihe. The pool area is 30 thousand square meters. km. The Huaihe River flows through hilly areas. The section from the mouth of Honghe to Hongzehu on the border between Anhui and Jiangsu provinces is considered the middle course of the river. Its length is 490 km.

The pool area is 128 thousand square meters. km. The northern coast of the middle course of the Huaihe is part of the Huanghe-Huaihe Plain. The southern coast is occupied by the Jianghuai Hills, the Huoshan Mountains, which serve as a watershed between the Yangtze and the Huaihe valley. In Fengtai, Huaiyuan and Wuhe of Anhui Province, the river forms the so-called. "three small gorges of Huaihe". The section below Hongzehe is considered to be the lower reaches of the river. Its length is 150 km. In the lower reaches, small rivers cross each other, and lakes are located all the time.

The Huaihe Basin is located in the central plain, the Zhongyuan Great Plain of China. It covers the provinces of Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shandong and Hubei. In the west, the basin adjoins the mountains of Tongbaishan and Funyushan. In the east, the basin is bounded by the Yellow Sea, in the south by Dabeshan, Huoshan and Zhangbaling mountains, by the Lianshan and Yimeshan mountains. The total area of ​​the pool is 270 thousand square meters. km.

The Huaihe water system includes several hundred rivers and their tributaries. Between the northern and southern shores of the Huaihe, there are known differences in relief and in natural geographical conditions. These differences predetermined the features of the two water systems. The tributaries on the northern coast are numerous and shallow. On south coast- short and deep tributaries. On the northern coast, Honghe, Yinghe, Wohe, Hoihe, Tohe, etc. are most famous. On the south coast are Pihe and Shihe.

The Huaihe Valley is located on a strip passing from the south to northern climate. It has a temperate climate with a semi-humid atmosphere. Geographically, Huaihe and Qinglin form a natural line of demarcation between the South and North of China. The climate is moderate. The frost-free period is more than 200 days a year. Precipitation is average, moderate - 800 mm per year.

The Huaihe Basin is also one of the most important agricultural production bases in our country. The main type of explored underground wealth is coal. There are many large coal mines in the valley, such as Huainan, Huaibei, Pingdingshan, Chaozhuang and Xuzhou.

Haihe - a water system resembling an ancient Chinese fan

The main waterway of Haihe is considered to be the section from the junction of the Ziyahe and Nanyunhe rivers near the Jingang Bridge in the northeastern part of Tianjin to the Haihe locks near Dagukou. Length - 72 km. This is an ancient riverbed that crosses Tianjin and serves as the natural axis of this city. On both sides of it are various monuments and sights of Tianjin. The Haihe basin is located in the area with coordinates 112°-120° east longitude and 35°-43° north latitude. The basin covers 5 provinces, 2 cities and one autonomous region, and more than 260 counties. The basin begins with a loess plateau in the western part of the Taihang Mountain region in the east and ends in the east with the Bohai Bay. In the south, it borders on the northern dam of the Yellow River. The basin covers two cities of central subordination - Beijing and Tianjin, most of Heibei province, the eastern and northern parts of Shanxi province, as well as the northern part of Shandong and Henan provinces. In addition, it also includes a small part of Liaoning and Inner Mongolia. The total area of ​​the pool is 317.8 thousand square meters. km.

The Haihe water system is one of the most important water systems in the North China Plain. Haihe has many tributaries - Beiyunhe (including Chaobai and Zhaoyun), Yongding, Daqing, Ziya and Nanyunhe. In addition, there are more than 300 rivers, each of which is 10 km long. and more. The fan-shaped Haihe includes many water systems of its tributaries. The main ones are three systems: southern, western and northern. The southern system includes the Zhanghe and Weihe, Nanyunhe and Ziyahe, which flow into the Haihe; the western includes Daqinghe; the northern one is called Beisikhe in a different way: these are Yongding, Beiyun, Chaobai and Zhaoyun.

Due to many factors that determine the geological structure and natural conditions of the North China region, the relief of the basin is characterized by an obvious elevation in the western, northern and southern parts and lowlands on the east side. All rivers flow to the east. This is the main reason for the formation of the fan-shaped water system of Haihe. In addition, important factors are also changes in the course of the Yellow River, which took place in history, as well as active anthropogenic impact.

The Haihe Valley is also characterized by uneven rainfall in different areas. The average annual precipitation is 400-800 mm. In flood years, precipitation reaches 1,300-1,400 mm. Due to significant evaporation, the absence of new replenishment from underground sources, as well as artificial dredging, the average annual drainage of the basin is small. In addition, the volume of the drain changes rapidly not only from year to year, it looks different even within one year. It is for these reasons that the history of these places knows many cases of serious natural disasters. In recent years, Beijing has been threatened by flooding three times, and Tianjin eight times. After the formation of the People's Republic of China, multiple channel cleanups were carried out in the water system of the basin, and the danger of natural disasters was largely eliminated.

The basin is famous for its reserves of coal, oil, natural gas and ores. Along the Bohai Bay there are extensive salt basins covering tens of thousands of hectares. And the port of Tianjin at the mouth of the Haihe is the largest port in northern China. Today, the Haihe Valley has already become one of the political, economic and cultural centers of China, as well as one of the most important grain-producing and cotton-producing bases in the northern part of China.

Lancangjiang - international waterway

Lancangjiang (Mekong) is born on the northern slopes of the Tanggla Range of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The height of the source above sea level is 5.167 meters. The sources of the river are in the Yushu-Tibetan autonomous region Qinghai province. The river flows from north to south, crossing Qinghai, Tibet, Yunnan, it also passes through the territories of neighboring countries - Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It flows into the sea near the Vietnamese city of Hu Kyi Min.

The river is the only international river in South-East Asia flowing through the territory of six states. The Lancang River (Mekong) is known throughout the world. In terms of length, it ranks sixth among the great rivers of the world, and in terms of basin area, it ranks 14th.

Lancangjiang has two sources: eastern (Dza-Chu) and western (Ngom-Chu). The upper course is the section from the source to the Tibetan city of Chamdo. Its length is 564 km. The upper course receives water replenishment from melted snow, rains and underground sources. The drop height is 1,850 meters.

After the confluence of tributaries at Chamdo, the river is named Lancangjiang. From here the river flows in a wide channel, calmly and evenly. The middle course is considered to be the section from Chamdo to the Gongguo Bridge in Yunnan Province. Its length is 813.7 km. Here the river passes through the highlands of the Hengduan Range, where there are many steep gorges. In this section, the river receives water replenishment from rains and groundwater. The drop height is 1,980 meters. The section below the Gungo Bridge is considered to be the downstream. Its length is 724.3 km. Not here high mountains accompanied by wide gorges and depressions. Water replenishments are predominantly from rains. The height of the fall is 765 meters. Before flowing into the river, the Namloi tributary, the river leaves China, and then it is called the Mekong.

The total length of the Chinese section of the river is 2,129 km, of which 448 km. fall on Qinghai Province, 465 km. - to Tibet, and 1,216 km. - to Yunnan. The Lancangjiang basin is inhabited by a large number of national minorities in China. These are the Dai, Yi, Bai, Naxi, Hui, Tibetans, Lahuts, etc. peoples. The basin is famous for its beautiful scenery and rich deposits of minerals such as antimony, lead, copper and iron. Here is the area with the richest fauna and flora of China. The height of the fall in the middle and lower reaches is 2,745 meters, which indicates a huge potential for hydropower resources. The picturesque landscape, unique national flavor and culture of China's national minorities annually attract the interest of an increasing number of tourists from all over the country and the world.

Lakes in China

China is a country with a huge number of lakes. According to the estimates of competent organizations, there are more than 2,800 natural (or non-artificial) lakes in China. Each of them has a water surface of 1 sq. km. or even more. The total area of ​​lakes is more than 80 thousand square meters. km. In addition, there are 13 lakes with a surface area of ​​1,000 sq. km. These lakes cover a total of approximately 29,000 sq. km.

Lakes in China are located respectively in 9 different natural and geographical bands and regions with unequal climatic conditions: some are in the mountains and on the plains, others are on continental areas or islands, others are in deserts or swamps, in arid zones or in humid and semi-humid areas. This explains the diversity of lakes in China. According to the reasons for their formation, lakes are divided into the following categories: tectonic, volcanic, glacial, dammed, karst, wind erosion lakes, river and lagoons. According to the hydrochemical composition of the lake waters are divided into salt, salt-water and freshwater.

The overwhelming majority of Chinese lakes receive direct water replenishment from the respective rivers, so the lakes are an integral part of the respective water systems. The geographical location of these lakes to a large extent depends on the area where the lakes receive water replenishment, which is why one of the most important factors is, among others, water regime. Due to certain factors, such as natural and geographical conditions, climatic conditions, external and internal (inland) rivers in our country are not similar to each other and have completely different features.

Based on the characteristics of Chinese rivers, it would be possible to draw a line through China that would start from the southern section of the Greater Khingan, then cross the Yinshan mountain range and the eastern section of the Qilian mountain range and end at the Gandishishan mountain range. To the southeast of this line are the lake districts, which receive water from the outer rivers. Due to the fact that lake water flows out of the lake, salt does not accumulate here and therefore there are mainly freshwater lakes that are concentrated on both sides of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The main ones are Poyanghu, Dongtinghu, Taihu, Hongzehu, Hulunhu, etc.

These lakes have huge natural resources. To the northwest of this line are lake areas that receive water replenishment from inland rivers. Since these lakes are far from the sea coast, water does not flow out of the lakes, a huge amount of salt accumulates here due to strong evaporation. Water contains a huge amount of salt. The water contains ordinary salt, mirabilite, gypsum, boric ores and other industrial raw materials. The most characteristic of this area is Qinghai Lake (Kukunor) - the largest salt Lake in China. Lakes in China are mainly located in five major lake districts. This is a lake region in the plains and mountains of Northeast China; a lake district on the plains of East China; the lake region on the Mongolian-Xinjiang plateau; a lake district on the Qinghai-Tibe Plateau; and a lake district on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

Lake district in the plains and mountains of Northeast China. The total area is 3,952 sq. km, which is 5.4% of the total lake areas of the country. The area is located in the temperate zone, where semi-humid seasonal winds prevail. Lakes receive abundant water replenishment and are usually divided into two categories: a) Lakes that were formed directly as a result of the volcanic movement of the Quaternary era. Characteristic of this are five interconnected lakes in Dedu County, Heilongjiang Province, Jingpohu Lake on the Mudanjiang River, and Tianchi Lake in the Changbaishan Mountains on the Sino-Korean border. These lakes are distinguished by their large water surface and great depth; b) Numerous large and small lakes in bogs and swamps. They are generally shallow and have a relatively high salt content.

Lake district in the plains of East China. Here we mean large and small lakes located on both sides of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze and Huaihe, the lower reaches of the Yellow River, Haihe, as well as on both sides of the large Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. Total area - 1,847 sq. km, which is 2.94% of the lake areas of the country. This area is characterized by a high density in the location of lakes. Here are the five most famous freshwater lakes in China - Poyang, Dongting, Taihu, Hongzehu and Chaohu.

Mongolian-Xinjiang plateau region of lakes. Total area - 9.106 sq. km, which is 12.2% of the total lake areas of the country. The Mongolian-Xinjiang lake region is located in the inland part of China. It is far from the sea. The climate is dry with little rainfall. Due to significant evaporation, water is lost faster than it enters, which led to a constant thickening and increase in salt content.

Qinghai-Tibet plateau region of lakes. Total area - 37.487 sq. km, or 50.5% of the country's total lake areas. This is a group of the largest and most numerous inland lakes located on the highest mountainous terrain of the Earth. This is at the same time the area with the most densely located lakes in our country. The lakes here are mostly saline or semi-salty. The water is usually deep. In winter, the lakes freeze for quite a long time.

Yunnan Guizhou Plateau Lake District. The total area is 1,077 sq. km. The area occupies approximately 1.4% of the total lake areas of the country. The lakes here are located mainly in the central and western part of Yunnan province. Medium and small freshwater lakes predominate here.

Geographical position

China is located in East Asia, in the east it is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. By area - 9.6 million square meters. km. China, second only to Russia and Canada, ranks third in the world. In the meridional direction, the territory of China extends for 5.5 thousand km. - from the Heilongjiang (Amur) River near the northern city of Mohe to the coral reefs of Zengmuansha south of the Nanshatsyundao archipelago. In the latitudinal direction - by 5.2 thousand km. from the confluence of the Heilongjiang and Ussuri rivers to the western spurs of the Pamirs.

The length of the land border of the country is 22.8 thousand km. In the east, China borders on the DPRK, in the north - on Mongolia, in the northeast - on Russia. China's northwestern neighbors are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, while Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan are located on the country's western and southwestern borders. In the south, China neighbors Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.

The Republic of Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia are located to the east and southeast of the coast of China and are separated from it by the seas. The length of the coastline of mainland China is more than 18,000 km. The coast of China is flat with a large number of convenient non-freezing harbors. China in the east and south is washed by the waters of the marginal seas of the Pacific Ocean (Yellow, East China and South China Seas), as well as the Bohai Sea, which is China's inland sea. The total area of ​​territorial waters is 4.73 million square meters. km.

The territory of China includes 5.4 thousand islands. The largest of them is Taiwan (36,000 sq. km), the second largest is Hainan (34,000 sq. km). The Diaoyu and Chiweiyu Islands, located northeast of Taiwan, are China's easternmost territories. Groups of islands, reefs and shoals in the South China Sea - Dongshatsundao, Xishatsyundao, Zhongshatsyundao, Nanshatsyundao and Nanwei - constitute the southern border of China.

Relief

The relief of China was formed under the influence of tectonic processes that began several million years ago, caused by the collision of the Hindustan and Eurasian plates. The territory of China resembles a four-step "ladder" descending from west to east, its upper part - the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau rises continuously, its average height exceeds 4,000 m above sea level, it is often called the "roof of the world."

On the western border of the highlands are the Great Himalayas with the main peak Chomolungma (8844.43 m above sea level) - the highest peak in the world. The second step is made up of the highlands of Inner Mongolia, the Loess plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou highlands with the Tarim depression located here, as well as the Dzhungar and Sichuan basins. The average height of the region is 2,000-1,000 m above sea level.

From the eastern edge of the second step - the eastern spurs of the Greater Khingan (Daxing'anling), the mountains of Taihangshan, Wushan and Xuefengshan - the third step of the stairs extends to the east, its height decreases to 1,000-500 m above sea level. Here, from north to south, are the Northeast, North China Plains and the plain of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze, framed small mountains and hills. The fourth step is vast areas of the continental shelf up to 200 m deep.

Climate

Most of China is located in the northern temperate zone, characterized primarily by a pronounced change of seasons and monsoon rains. From September to April, severe winter winds from Siberia and Mongolia determine the dry and cold climate and a large temperature difference between north and south.

From April to September, warm and humid summer monsoons come from the east and southern seas, at this time it is hot and rainy, the temperature difference between north and south is negligible. The territory of China includes 6 climatic zones: equatorial, tropical, subtropical, warm-temperate, temperate and cold-temperate. The amount of precipitation gradually decreases from the southeast to the northwest, and there is a big difference in the average annual precipitation in all regions of the country, in the southeast - 1,500 mm, in the northwest - only 200 mm.

Rivers and lakes

China has a large number of rivers. The basins of more than one and a half thousand rivers exceed 1,000 sq. km. km. The sources of the main rivers are in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, from where their waters rush to the plains. Large elevation differences create favorable conditions for the use of hydropower resources, the reserves of which amount to 680 million kilowatts and rank first in the world.

The rivers of China form systems with external and internal flows. The total catchment area of ​​landlocked rivers covers 64% of the country's territory. These include the Yangtze, Huanghe, Heilongjiang, Zhujiang, Liaohe, Haihe, Huaihe, etc., flowing from west to east and flowing into Pacific Ocean; the Yalutsangpo River originates in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and flows into the Indian Ocean, in its channel is the world's largest canyon with a length of 504.6 km. and with a unique depth of 6,009 m. The Ertsis (Irtysh) River flows through Xinjiang to the north and flows into the Arctic Ocean. Rivers with internal flow flow into lakes or get lost in deserts. Their catchment area covers 36% of the country's territory. The longest of them is Tarim in Xinjiang - 2,179 km.

The largest river in China, the Yangtze, is second only to the Nile and the Amazon in length (6,300 km). The upper course of the Yangtze runs through high mountains and deep valleys. It harbors rich water resources. The Yangtze is the country's main and most convenient shipping route, running from west to east. It is adapted by nature for navigation, not without reason in China the Yangtze is called the "golden transport artery". The regions of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze are characterized by a warm and humid climate, an abundance of rainfall and soil fertility, which creates ideal conditions for the development of agriculture. It is here that the main granary of the country is located.

The second largest river in China is the Yellow River (5,464 km). The Huang He basin is rich in fertile fields, rich pastures, and the subsoil conceals huge deposits of minerals. The banks of the Yellow River are the cradle of the Chinese nation, from here the origins of ancient Chinese culture can be traced. Heilongjiang (Amur) is the largest river in northern China. The total length is 4,350 km, of which 3,101 km. on the territory of China. The Pearl River is 2,214 km long. - the most full-flowing in South China. In addition to natural water arteries, China has a well-known man-made Grand Canal that connects the systems of the Haihe, Huanghe, Huaihe, Yangtze and Qiantangjiang rivers. It was laid in the 5th century BC, stretches from north to south from Beijing to the city of Hangzhou (Prov. Zhejiang) for 1,801 km, this is the oldest and longest artificial canal in the world.

There are many lakes in China. Most of them are located on the plains of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Plain lakes are usually freshwater, the largest of them are Poyanghu, Dongtinghu, Taihu and Hongzehu. China's largest freshwater lake Poyang - in the north of Jiangxi province, the mirror of the lake is 3,583 square meters. km. The lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are mostly salty, these are Qinghaihu (Kukunor), Namuhu (Namtso), Qilinhu (Selling), etc. The largest salt lake in the country is Qinghaihu (northeast of the Qinghai Province), its area is 4,583 sq. km.

Land resources and minerals

China is extremely rich in land resources and minerals. There are huge areas of various types of soil, arable land, forests and steppes, deserts, etc. Arable land is concentrated in the east of China, steppes are located mainly in the west and north, forests in remote northeastern and southwestern regions.

At present, the area of ​​cultivated land in China is 130.04 million hectares. The main agricultural regions are the Northeast and North China Plains, the plain of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze, the Pearl River Delta, and the Sichuan Basin. The North-Eastern Plain with an area of ​​350 thousand square meters. km. is the largest in the country; wheat, corn, soybeans, kaoliang, sugar beet and bast crops are cultivated on its fertile black soil.

The North China Plain is formed by thick sediments, where burozems predominate. Rich crops of wheat, corn, millet, cotton and other crops are harvested here. The plain of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze is low and flat, there are many lakes in an intricate interweaving of rivers and streams. It is an ideal place to grow many crops, including tea; freshwater species of fish are bred in reservoirs. This area is rightly called "the land of rice and fish." Violet soils predominate in the Sichuan depression. In a warm and humid climate, good harvests of flooded rice, rapeseed and sugar cane are gathered here all year round. The Pearl River Delta has two to three bountiful rice crops a year.

The area of ​​forests in China is 174.91 million hectares. The largest forest areas are located in the Greater and Lesser Khingan regions, in the Changbaishan mountains in the northeast, where the main tree species are cedar, larch, birch, oak, Manchurian ash, elm and poplar. Southwest China occupies the second place in terms of forest reserves. It is rich in valuable wood species, including spruce, fir, Yunnan pine, pompelmus, sandalwood, camphor and mahogany, as well as nanmu wood. Xishuangbanna is a unique place in the south of Yunnan. Local impassable tropical jungle, in which more than 5 thousand species of flora grow, are rightly called the "kingdom of plants".

The area of ​​natural pastures in China is about 400 million hectares. In the steppe zone extending over 3,000 km. from the northeast to the southwest of the country, a large number of cattle-breeding and livestock-breeding bases have been created. The leader in the expanses of natural pastures is Inner Mongolia, famous for its elite livestock breeds. Business card local animal husbandry - the Sanhe bull and horse, as well as the Mongolian sheep. Xinjiang is an important breeding base for the famous Ili horse and Xinjiang fine fleece sheep.

China occupies one of the first places in the world in terms of the total area of ​​arable land, pastures and forests, however, due to the huge population, these figures in terms of per capita are reduced to a minimum. This, first of all, refers to the arable area - this figure is only a third of the world average per capita.

China is rich in minerals. Here, as they say, "practically the entire periodic table is presented." Geologists have confirmed the presence of commercial reserves of 158 minerals. In terms of their total reserves, China ranks third in the world. China is among the world leaders in reserves of a number of major minerals - coal, iron, copper, aluminum, antimony, molybdenum, manganese, tin, lead, zinc and mercury. China's hard coal reserves are estimated at 332.6 billion tons. The richest coal deposits are located in Xinjiang, Shanxi Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Iron ore reserves amount to 21.6 billion tons, the most significant deposits are located in the north, northeast and southwest of the country. China is rich in oil, natural gas, oil shale, phosphorus and sulfur. The main oil fields have been explored in the northwestern, northeastern and northern regions, as well as in continental shelf off the eastern coast. In terms of reserves of rare earth metals, China surpasses all countries of the world combined.

Flora and fauna

In terms of the diversity of species of wild animals, China occupies one of the first places in the world. More than 6,266 species of vertebrates live here, including 2,404 species of terrestrial vertebrates and 3,862 species of fish, which is about 10% of the species of vertebrates living on Earth. The giant panda, golden monkey, South China tiger, brown chicken, Manchurian crane, red-footed ibis, white dolphin, Chinese alligator and other rare representatives of the fauna are Chinese endemics. A giant panda with fluffy black and white hair is a large mammal, it feeds on young bamboo shoots, its weight reaches 135 kg. There are currently only a little over 1,700 left on the planet. giant pandas, they have become an international symbol of wildlife conservation. The Manchurian crane is a symbol of longevity in East Asia. Its height reaches 1.2 m, white and black colors of plumage are originally combined, on the head there is bare skin of bright red color. The white dolphin is one of two freshwater species cetaceans. It was first discovered in the Yangtze in 1980 and attracted great interest from ichthyologists from different countries.

China has an exceptionally rich flora, with 32,000 species of higher plants alone. Among them are almost all plants characteristic of cold, temperate and tropical zones Northern Hemisphere, more than 7 thousand tree species, including 2.8 thousand tree species. The unique species, characteristic exclusively for China, include glyptostroboid metasequoia, Chinese glyptostrobus, Chinese argyrophylla, cunningamia, false larch, Taiwan flusiana, Fujian cypress, davidia, eucommia, "xishu". Metasequoia glyptostrobovidny as a relict plant is listed as the rarest plant in the world. False larch grows in the mountainous regions of the Yangtze basin, on its short branches there are bunches of leaves that resemble coppers, they are green in summer and yellow in autumn. The false larch, along with other 4 rare species of trees, is widely used in landscape gardening. In China, there are over 2,000 species of edible plants and over 3,000 species of medicinal plants. The most valuable of them are Changbaishan ginseng, Tibetan safflower, Ningxia lycium and pinnatifid ginura growing in Yunnan and Guizhou. The Chinese flora is rich in flowers and ornamental plants, the most beautiful is considered to be the peony, which originally grows here and is called by the Chinese the “king of flowers”. The tree peony flowers are especially large, bright and lush, it is recognized as one of national symbols China.

South China Karst

China is one of the countries with the largest carbonate rocks in the world, it is in the south of China that the most typical and diverse karst formations have formed. South China Karst, centered on Guizhou Province, covering an area of ​​about 600,000 sq. km., considered the largest single karst formation in the world, it includes the eastern part of Yunnan, most of Guizhou, partly includes Chongqing, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei and Guangdong. With a high mountain plateau (average altitude 2,000-2,200 m) in the northwest and a lowland plain (average altitude 100-120 m) in the southeast, its topography shows a giant slope descending from the northwest to the southeast.

The Chinese government has nominated the South China Karst as a world natural heritage site. South China Karst includes three areas - Chongqing Wulong Karst (gorge), Guizhou Libo Karst (conical formations) and Yunnan Province Stone Forest Karst (sharp rocks). Their total area is 476 sq. km., the area of ​​buffer zones is 984 sq. km.

From various perspectives, these karst zones reflect the unique natural features of the South China topography, highlighting its distinctive and representative karst topography, karst ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as its unique natural beauty.

From a geological point of view, the South China Karst region is located on the southwestern edge of the Yangtze massif. During most of the Paleozoic and early Mesozoic periods (Cambrian to Triassic), this region was covered by an ocean. Thousands of meters of dense carbonate deposits formed, especially in the late Paleozoic era. Due to the movement of the earth, starting late Triassic period, this area began to rise, emerged from under the water and began to develop karst forms.

Due to the formation of the Himalayas since the late Tertiary period, there has been a rapid rise in this region, which is reflected in the current sloping topography. As a result of a long and complex geological evolution, karst formations unique in their diversity have formed in this region, including the most typical karst formations in the world - tower karst (Fenglin), sharp rock karst (Stone Forest) and conical karst (Fengcong), as well as unusual karst phenomena such as Tiankeng (giant karst well) and Difeng (deep karst fissure). In addition, there are numerous underground cave systems and rich cave deposits. All this makes this area the world's "museum of the continental tropical-subtropical karst" due to its incomparable richness and uniqueness.

On the territory of the South China Karst, dense carbonate layers deposited in the period from the Cambrian to the Triassic contain the most important fossils for world science, which are the most important evidence of life on Earth.

The nominated area is characterized by high biological diversity, it contains a large number of rare, endangered and species of plants and animals characteristic of this particular area. There are more than 6,000 species of higher plants in the karst regions of Chongqing and Guizhou, including D.involucrate, C.argyrophyll, Cycasguizhouensis, Taxuschinensis, and others. rare species. This karst formation is inhabited not only by many animals - birds, amphibians, fish and cave animals - but also by many endangered and characteristic species of animals, such as Presbytisfrancoisi, Neofelisnebulosa, Aqilachrysaetos, Moschusberezovskit and others. for many endangered animal and plant species.

The rich and unique karst formations of the nominated area have a unique natural beauty. Many of the areas have been traditional landmarks for hundreds of years. Tianken in Chongqing, Stone Forest in Yunnan and waterfalls in Guizhou - natural wonders known all over the world.

Karst Chongqing Oolong

Oolong Karst is located in the lower reaches of the Wujiang River southeast of Chongqing. It consists of three karst systems - Sanqiao Natural Bridges, Furong Jiang Karst, and Houping Tianken Karst, which are located in the north, southeast, and northeast of Wulong County respectively. It consists of gorges, natural bridges, tianken, caves, underground currents, sometimes coming to the surface, developed in carbonate rocks.

The platform of this area is characterized by two mountain plains with a rise of 1,800-2,000 m and 1,200-1,500 m deep gorges. Three karst systems are located on the banks, in the interfluve and upper reaches of the tributaries of the Wujiang River, respectively. They form a connected community that develops in harmony with each other.

January 2006 - Oolong Karst applied for the title of World Natural Heritage as part of the South China Karst.

Guizhou Libo Karst

Libo Karst, nominated for the title of World Natural Heritage under the South China Karst Statement, is located in Libo County, South Guizhou Bui and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. Its average height above sea level is 747 m with a range of 385 to 1,109 m.

It is a typical example of conical karst in the transition zone between the Guizhou Plateau and the Guangxi Lowlands. Its outstanding qualities are provided by the full range of gradual transition from plateau karst to lowland karst. The conical karst contains the richest variety of biological species, this special ecosystem karst forest and is home to many species of endangered fauna.

90% of the population of the nominated area are national minorities with a rich culture. exotic culture of local peoples Shui, Yao, Bui and others is unique and bright. The boundaries of the nominated site are established based on the geomorphological development and distribution of karst, karst forest ecosystems and habitats of rare and endangered species.

Libo Karst consists of a core zone of 29.518 ha and a buffer zone of 43.498 ha. The main zone of the Maolan National Reserve covers 21,684 ha, covering 73.46% of the Libo cone zone.

Criteria that meet the requirements of the World Natural Heritage:

An outstanding example representing milestones in the Earth's evolutionary history, including evidence of life, significant ongoing geological processes in landform development, or significant geomorphic or physiographic properties; It is an outstanding example representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, coastal, freshwater and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals; Contains the most important and significant natural habitat conditions for conservation biodiversity locality, including endangered species of outstanding scientific or conservation value.

Karst "Stone Forest" in Yunnan Province

Stone Forest National Park is located in Shilin Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province, 80 km. southeast of Kunming city. It covers an area of ​​350 sq. km. and includes Main Stone Forest, Naigu Stone Forest, Changhu Lake, Great Waterfall, etc.

For 300 million years, as a result of the movement of the earth's crust, this area has turned from the sea to the land, from the lower reaches to the plateau. The original carbonate rock formed in the ocean miraculously turned into a "stone forest". In the process of evolution, the Stone Forest was covered with volcanic lava and lake water. Therefore, the formation of the Stone Forest can truly be called a legendary geological phenomenon on a global scale.

The stone forest has the richest morphological properties. Due to the unique geological evolution, numerous accumulations of stone forest formations, formed in different geological periods, coexist in a variety of topography, each with unique features. There are pointed rocks, columnar and mushroom-shaped groups, groups in the form of pagodas. Since almost all typical spiky karst formations can be defined as a stone forest, the park is known worldwide as the "Stone Forest Museum".

Walking through the stone forest, visitors admire the masterpieces created by nature, bizarre forms fascinate them. A delightful, unusual and broken landscape creates countless interweaving of labyrinths.

These include the Main Stone Forest, Small Stone Forest, and Naigu Stone Forest, which are made up of various rock formations. Here you can find animals, plants and even human figures. Some resemble elephants, some are scraps or rags, but it is certain that they are all quite unique.

The underground stone forest in Zhiyun Cave is an underground stone forest distributed over several caves, covering a total area of ​​about 3 square meters. km. "Mysterious Wind Cave" consists of Pengfeng Cave, Hongxi Spring and Underground River. From August to November, a whirlwind lasting 2-3 minutes breaks out of the cave every 30 minutes. The elongated Changhu Lake is a karst lake 3 km long. and only 300 meters wide. The lake has underwater stalactites and stalagmites and a small island in the center. The source of the waterfall "Dade" - the Ba River is a tributary of the Nanpan River. In the rainy season up to 150 cubic meters. m. of water per sq. inch fall from a height of 88 meters.

Every year on the 24th or 25th of the sixth month of the lunar calendar, the people of Sani gather in the Stone Forest for the "Festival of Torches". Visitors are invited to admire the folk dances and wrestling competitions of the youth of Sani.

What are the two largest rivers in China? and got the best answer

Answer from Artyom[guru]






Source:

Answer from DICK[guru]
Yangtze and Huang He.
Huang He - "Yellow River" - because of the color of the water, in which the loess suspension.
Yangtze - no associations in the brain.


Answer from Yovetlana Panfilova[guru]
Huang He (Yellow River) and Yangtze.
All. Sorry.


Answer from Anastasia[active]
Huang He and Yangtze
The Yellow River flows through a forest plateau and has the highest turbidity in the world; during floods, it generally turns not even into a river, but into a mud stream


Answer from Leonid Yaroshevsky[guru]
The largest river in China - the Yangtze, in length - 6300 km - is second only to the Nile in Africa and the Amazon in South America. The upper course of the Yangtze runs through high mountains and deep valleys. It harbors rich water resources. The Yangtze is the country's main and most convenient shipping route, running from west to east. Its fairway is adapted by nature for navigation, it is not for nothing that the Yangtze is called the "golden transport artery" in China. The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze are characterized by a warm and humid climate, abundant rainfall and fertile soil, which creates ideal conditions for the development of agriculture. It is here that the main granary of the country is located. The second largest river in China is the Yellow River, with a total length of 5464 km. The Huang He basin is rich in fertile fields, rich pastures, and the subsoil conceals huge deposits of minerals. The banks of the Yellow River are considered the cradle of the Chinese nation, from here the origins of ancient Chinese culture can be traced. Heilongjiang is a major river in northern China. The total length is 4350 km, of which 3101 km are in China. The Pearl River is the deepest in South China, with a total length of 2214 km. In addition to natural water arteries, China has a well-known man-made Grand Canal connecting the water systems of the Haihe, Huanghe, Huaihe, Yangtze and Qiantangjiang rivers. It was built in the 5th century BC. e., stretches from north to south from Beijing to the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province for 1801 km, this is the oldest and longest artificial canal in the world.


Answer from Lady X[master]
The Chinese also called the Huang He the River of the Nine Sorrows.


Answer from Aivar Kink[guru]
Relief features were reflected primarily in the distribution of water
country's resources. The most humid are the southern and eastern parts,
having a dense and highly branched system. In these areas there are
The largest rivers in China are the Yangtze and the Yellow River. They also include:
Amur, Sungari, Yalohe, Xijiang, Tsagno. rivers Eastern China in most
are rich in water and navigable, and their regime is characterized by uneven
seasonal runoff - minimum flow in winter and maximum - in summer. On
floods are frequent on the plains, caused by rapid spring and summer melting
snow.
The western, arid part of China is poor in rivers. Basically they
are shallow, shipping on them is poorly developed. Most of the rivers in this
areas do not have a runoff into the sea, and their flow is episodic.
The largest rivers in this region are Tarim, Black Irtysh, Ili, Edzin-Gol.
The largest rivers in the country, carrying their waters to the ocean, become infected in
Tibetan plateau.
China is rich not only in rivers, but also in lakes. There are two main
types: tectonic and fashionably erosive. The first are located in the central
the Asian part of the country, and the second in the Yangtze River system. In the western part
China's largest lakes are: Lop Nor, Koonunor, Ebi-Nur. Especially
numerous lakes in the Tibetan Plateau. Most of the flat lakes
as well as rivers, they are shallow, many are without drainage and are saline. In the eastern
parts of China, the largest Dongtinghu, Poyanghu, Taihu, located in
the Yangtze river basin; Hongzuohu and Gaoihu - in the Yellow River basin. IN
high water many of these lakes become natural reservoirs
countries.


Answer from Ludmila[active]
China has only 2 rivers, the Yangtze and the Yellow River.
1 Yangtze
2 Huanhe


Answer from Oriy Pan[newbie]
1. Yangtze - the largest river in China and one of the longest rivers in the world, its length is more than 6300 km. , pool area sq. , 1,807,199 km. , the total annual flow is 979.353 billion cubic meters. m., the average layer of the drain is 542 mm.
The Yangtze originates in the foothills of Tibet, in western China, and, flowing through the whole country, flows into the sea near Shanghai. Along the banks of the Yangtze, green villages and small towns covered in myths and legends stretched in the form of terraces. The Yangtze passes deep gorges on the plains of Sichuan, flows through amazingly picturesque gorges and canyons between the cities of Chongqing and Wuhan - this is perhaps the most beautiful place on the river.
At present, this unusual sight will soon no longer be visible: the Chinese are building a dam that will soon flood all the gorges, and with them the segment of life that has remained untouched for so many generations will disappear.
2. Yellow River - the second largest river in China, originates in the northern spurs of the Baiangla Mountains in Qinghai Province and flows through nine provinces and autonomous regions, flows into the Bohai Sea. The length of the Yellow River is 5464 km, its basin covers an area of ​​more than 750 thousand square meters. km, the annual flow reaches 66.1 billion cubic meters. The main tributaries are Fenhe and Weihe, and in general the number of tributaries is more than 40.
Huang He got her English name like the "Yellow River" for the color of the water, which is rich in silt, which is washed out of the loess soils from the territory through which it flows. Over the past two thousand years, the river overflowed its banks and broke through dams more than a thousand times, and at least 20 times significantly changed the trajectory of its channel.
IN currently 18 dams have been built on the Yellow River, and 7 more dams are under construction. Hydropower facilities are concentrated in the upper reaches of the river, such as the Longyangxia, Lujiaxia, Qingtongxia and in the middle reaches of the Huang He, the Xiaoland hydropower facility is being built there, there are no hydropower facilities in the lower reaches of the river.

The larger the territory, the more likely it is that this territory will contain a large number of water arteries, large and small rivers, and water reservoirs, seas and freshwater lakes. This statement, in any case, is equally true both for Russia and for its great neighbor - China, the third largest country in the world in terms of area.

There is, however, one significant difference between Russia and China in this sense - there are no inland seas in China.

Due to the "enormity" of the territory of the Chinese People's Republic and a number of its geographical features (for example, the obvious uneven distribution of the water resources of this country), the number of rivers in this country cannot be established accurately; it is only known that there are no less than one and a half thousand and up to five thousand of them in the Celestial Empire, and the “total capacity”, that is, the area of ​​\u200b\u200btheir basin exceeds 1000 square meters. km.

At the same time, according to the official indicator of the annual flow (2600 billion cubic meters), China occupies one of the first places in the world.

By the way, in some sources, the number of rivers in China is brought up to 50,000 and it is said that China de "abounds in rivers." True, they, these same sources, in no way indicate how such a calculation was carried out, and what was the method of this calculation itself.

Some of these rivers are included in the “most-most” category, such as, for example, the famous Irtysh, the left one, the main tributary of the no less famous Obi- the longest tributary river on the planet, flowing through three countries at once - China, where its source is located (on the border of Mongolia, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region), Kazakhstan and Russia. As a tributary of the Ob flows into the Ob Bay of the Kara Sea.

Length - 4248 km, the area of ​​​​the basin of this river - 1643 thousand square meters. km.

And the largest river on the Indochina Peninsula, whose waters also flow through the lands of the Celestial Empire and five other states of Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam), is Mekong, it is also the "River of the Nine Dragons", the length of which is about 4,500 km, and the basin area is 810 thousand square meters. km. The Mekong carries its waters to the South China Sea.

The Mekong is well known in Europe and the US, primarily due to Francis Ford Coppola's anti-war films Apocalypse Now (1979) and Oliver Stone's Platoon (1986) about the US war in Vietnam.

Another river from the "most-most" - Huanghe, the famous "Yellow River", one of the largest in all of Asia, the most important river ancient history China, in the basin of which the formation and further development of the modern Chinese ethnic group took place. The Huang He flows into the Yellow Sea.

The length of the Yellow River is 5464 km, the basin area is 752 thousand square meters. km.

And the river Brahmaputra, whose waters flow in three countries at once - in China, India and Bangladesh - a tributary of another famous river, the Ganges, one of the largest in South Asia. Its length is 2896 km, and the basin area is 651,334 sq. km, which, as they say, "inspire". It flows into the Indian Ocean.

The main rivers of China - TOP-10

The list of the main water arteries of the Celestial Empire published here is rather subjective and therefore may differ in one way or another from the information previously published in official sources. The main criterion in compiling this list was the length of the rivers mentioned in it.

  1. yangtze,
  2. Huang He (Yellow River)
  3. Heilongjiang (Amur),
  4. Songhua,
  5. Zhujiang (Pearl River),
  6. Brahmaputra,
  7. mekong,
  8. Nujiang,
  9. hangang,
  10. Liaohe.

The information for this list was taken from Runet publications on the geography and hydrography of the People's Republic of China.

Apparently, due to the fact that only its sources are in China, the aforementioned Irtysh is absent from this list, but the right, largest tributary of the Amur, the Sungari River, which is almost two times shorter than the Irtysh, is present.

The longest river in China is the main navigable river

The longest and most full-flowing river of the Eurasian continent is the Yangtze River, the basin of which covers almost a fifth of all the lands of the Celestial Empire, and almost a third of the entire current population of the People's Republic of China lives on its banks.

The length of the Yangtze is about 6300 sq. km, and the area of ​​​​its basin simply cannot but impress - 1,808,500 km, this is the third largest river in the world, after the Amazon and the Nile, the longest in China and the main navigable river of this country.

The ancient high-speed Yangtze or, literally, the “Long River”, the source of which is located on the peak of Geladandong of the Tanggulashan mountain range, changing its names along its entire length, is another important water artery in the history of China, its culture and economy, because here, in the lower reaches this great river, once the civilization of South China was born, several times it was the natural border between North and South China.

Many important battles took place on the banks of the Yangtze, which had an undeniable impact on the entire further course of the history of the Celestial Empire in ancient times and the early Middle Ages.

The Yangtze is longest river in china and throughout the Eurasian continent. Its length is about six thousand kilometers, which can allow it to compete with such big rivers like the Nile and the Amazon. The source of the river is in the center of the Tibetan plateau.

The river most likely got its name from the ancient ferry crossing, whose name was the Yangtze. This was usually the first word that merchants from Europe who arrived here could hear, so this name stuck to the river. However, in China, the name Yangtze has long been outdated, and now only poets use this name in their poems and poems. And the current name of the river - chang jiang, and it translates as long river».

Based on the fact that yangtze river very long then locals in different parts of it they called it differently, because the times were ancient and there were no special movements of peoples, so everyone called their section of the river as they saw fit and took it for the truth. For example, in its upper reaches the river was called Dangku (which means swamp river). A little further downstream, the locals gave the river the name Tuotuo, and further down, Tongtian (it's more of a philosophical name, which means a river that runs through the sky).

And there are many such names. And this is no coincidence. After all, the river emerges from the Himalayan ice, at an altitude of more than five thousand meters above sea level, then it travels a relatively short distance and reaches a thousand meters above sea level. Naturally, such differences and peculiarities could not pass by the inhabitants who settled along the banks of the river, and they gave this great river their names.

Flowing like a storm among mountains, Yangtze It is very well fed from its tributaries, after which its channel expands noticeably. And reaching the borders of the Yangtze mountain range, it collides with the greatest hydraulic structure in the world - a dam called "Sanxia". I must say that the Chinese use the potential of this river, as they say to the fullest. A number of dams have been built here, and several more are in the planning and development stage.

One of the distinguishing features of China is the abundance of rivers. There are about 5000 of them in the country.

Short and long, small and large, with a calm disposition and a violent character - they are all as different as the country itself. River forks are located very unevenly. The west of China suffers from a shortage of rivers, while the eastern part abounds in them, and it is here that the largest are located.

Yangtze

The Yangtze is the largest river in the country, with a length of 6300 km. Being the third largest in the world, it is second only to the Amazon and the Nile. Its source is located in snowy mountains Geladandong. It flows through the territory of eleven provinces, making its way through the fields and foothills, hills, mountains and gorges. No other river in China can boast such a variety of landscapes, so its second name "river of contrasts" is quite justified.

The Yangtze is not only famous for its beauty, but is also the "golden transport artery" of the country. It is navigable for almost its entire length. The river conditionally divides the Middle Kingdom into two parts: northern and southern China. The largest metropolitan areas - Wuhan, Nanjing - are located along the banks of the Yangtze.

Zhujiang

The "Pearl River", as the Zhujiang is also called, flows through eight provinces. The unusual name of the river was due to the island located on it. The shores polished by water became surprisingly smooth, resembling the surface of a pearl.

Zhujiang calls special interest tourists and guests of the Celestial Empire enjoy the extraordinary beauty of numerous bridges, which are illuminated at night. In addition, along the banks of this river there are a large number of cultural monuments and attractions of China.

Huanghe

The second largest river in the country, the Yellow River, with a length of 5464 km, originates on the Tibetan Plateau. Its name translates as "Yellow River". This is no coincidence, because the abundance of suspensions gives it such a color. In the summer, when the Huang He is the most full-flowing, it carries a huge amount of silt. Sediments in the lower reaches are deposited, which leads to an increase in the level of the channel in relation to the surrounding area. The result is frequent floods, for which the river received the second name "Mountain of China".

The Yellow River flows through the territory of the Great Plain of China, which makes navigation possible in some of its sections. However, recently, due to environmental problems, the Yellow River has become shallow for most of the year, which makes navigation possible only for small ships.

Liaohe

Being one of the largest in the northern part of China, Liaohe has two sources at once: one is located in the west, the other in the east. The very first mention of this river dates back to 475-221 BC. In one of the provinces named after Liaohe, it is called the "mother river". Just like the Yellow River, this river carries a lot of loess - fertile soil of a yellow hue.

heilongjiang

This water artery flows along the border of Russia and China. But if for the Chinese people it is known as Heilongjiang, then our population calls it Amur. Going around the territory of the Celestial Empire from the east, the river flows into the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. With a length of 4370 km, Heilongjiang ranks 11th in length among all the rivers of the planet.

It flows through the most picturesque places. Virgin forests, lush green grass and water areas impress with their grandeur and beauty. If you admire the Amur from a bird's eye view, it is easy to see that the river has the shape of a black dragon. This is the basis of its name by the Chinese.

Heilongjiang is navigable along its entire length, therefore it is an important waterway.

Hangang

The Hangang (another name is the Han Shui River) is considered to be one of the most important tributaries of the Yangtze. The total length of the river is 1532 km. According to a number of historians, the name of this river formed the basis for the name of the royal Han dynasty and the kingdom of Han.

The water arteries of the Celestial Empire are one of its attractions. Known throughout the world, the Yangtze and the Yellow River or other, less popular, rivers are unique in nature. The special flavor of the area and amazing river landscapes will not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated travelers.