the yangtze river

The Yangtze River

A presentation of the Third-Longest River in the World

Location

Dangla Mountain Range

Shanghai

1. The Yangtze River originates from the Eastern part of Asia in China2. It is more than 6.300 km long which qualifies it as the third-longest river in the

world.

6000 km SE

Tibetan Plateau

A map of Provinces

1. It goes through 10 provinces from Qinghai to Shanghai2. Upper Course: The Tibetan Plateau Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau3. Middle Course: Yibin Yichang4. Lower Course: Yichang Shanghai

Yangtze River

River’s Economic Uses- AgricultureThe Yangtze basin contributes nearly half of China’s crop production

- Fisheries Hundreds of species are found in Chinese rivers, the majority of which inhabit the Yangtze and its tributaries.

- NavigationThe Yangtze is the principal navigable waterway of China. Along the river for 1,700 miles (2,700 km) there is intensive cargo and passenger traffic

- Tourismnow offers the possibility to cruise at leisure. Since 2004

- Hydroelectric powerThe total potential power is estimated to be more than 200 million kilowatts

Major Challenges/ Threats

Threats caused by human’s impact on the river

-Dreadful environmental conditions in the Yangtze basin has accelerated with increased economic development since 1950. Pollution levels have risen in the river , due to the disposal of sewage, industrial waste

- The Three Gorges project, which floods an area that is considered to be one of the most beautiful scenery areas in China as well as it affect several endangered animal species inhabiting the basin.

Nature based threats

- Flooding along the river has been a major problem. The huge river system receives water from both southern and northern flanks, which causes its flood season to extend from May to August.

- The most recent major floods were the 1998 Yangtze River floods, but more disastrous were the 1954 Yangtze River floods, killing around 30,000 people. Other severe floods included those of 1911, which killed around 100,000, 1931(145,000 dead), and 1935 (142,000 dead).

Yangtze River

Management

Hard Engineering Method on Flood Control

• Building Dams

2 Major dams has been built, 1 is under construction,Among them, them most important dam is Three Gorge Dam

• Length: 2335m • Height: 101 m• Width: 115 m• Cost: 39 billion USD

South-to-North Water Transfer Project

Soft Engineering and Other Methods

• Increase forestation• Flood cushion: Increase

lake capacity• Suspend Sand

Collection in the river• Upper course

environment protection