Yellow River

The Yellow River or Huang He is the second-longest river in China, after the Yangtze River, and the sixth-longest river system in the world at the estimated length of 5,464 km (3,395 mi). Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai province of Western China, it flows through nine provinces, and it empties into the Bohai Sea near the city of Dongying in Shandong province.

Geography

The Yellow River is notable for the large amount of silt it carries—1.6 billion tons annually at the point where it descends from the Loess Plateau. If it is fully deposited, the silt can create a land area of 1,000 square kilometers annually. The highest silt concentration level was recorded in 1977 at 920 kg/m³. The river gets its yellow color from the large amount of silt.

History

The Yellow River has played a critical role in the history of China. It is considered to be the cradle of Chinese civilization, as its basin was the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilizations and was the most prosperous region in early Chinese history.

Hydrology

The Yellow River is prone to flooding, due to the elevated nature of the river, running between dykes above the broad plains surrounding it. The current dykes were mostly built during 1950–53, after a series of devastating floods hit the region in the previous decade.

Ecology

The Yellow River delta has a high biodiversity and is home to many species of birds and fish. However, the river has suffered from severe pollution in recent years, which has led to a decline in fish species and bird populations.

See also

• List of rivers in China
• Geography of China
• History of China

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