Mekong River

major river in Southeast Asia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mekong Rivermap

The Mekong River is a river in southeast Asia. It flows through many countries: China, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and finally Vietnam. The Mekong begins in the Lasagongma Spring which is in the plateaus of Tibet, and flows about 2,703 miles (4,350 km) south-east to the South China Sea. Its watershed covers 307,000 square miles (797,000 square kilometers).[1]

Quick Facts Mekong River 湄公河 (Méigōng Hé) / 澜沧江 (Láncāng Jiāng)မဲခေါင်မြစ် (Megaung Myit)ແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ (Maenam Khong)แม่น้ำโขง (Maenam Khong)ទន្លេមេគង្គ (Tônlé Mékôngk)Sông Mê Kông / Sông Cửu Long (九龍), Location ...
Mekong River
湄公河 (Méigōng Hé) / 澜沧江 (Láncāng Jiāng)
မဲခေါင်မြစ် (Megaung Myit)
ແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ (Maenam Khong)
แม่น้ำโขง (Maenam Khong)
ទន្លេមេគង្គ (Tônlé Mékôngk)
Sông Mê Kông / Sông Cửu Long (九龍)
Thumb
Mekong River, Luang Prabang, Laos
Thumb
Mekong River watershed
Location
CountryChina, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
Physical characteristics
SourceLasaigongma (拉赛贡玛) Spring
 - locationMt. Guozongmucha (果宗木查), Zadoi, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, China
 - coordinates33°42.5′N 94°41.7′E
 - elevation5,224 m (17,139 ft)
MouthMekong Delta
 - locationVietnam
 - coordinates10.189°N 106.749°E / 10.189; 106.749, 10.261291334222218°N 106.75297696603432°E / 10.261291334222218; 106.75297696603432
 - elevation0 m (0 ft)
Length4,350 km (2,700 mi)
Basin size795,000 km2 (307,000 sq mi)
Discharge 
 - locationMekong Delta, South China Sea
 - average16,000 m3/s (570,000 cu ft/s)
 - minimum1,400 m3/s (49,000 cu ft/s)
 - maximum39,000 m3/s (1,400,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 - leftSrepok, Nam Khan, Tha, Nam Ou
 - rightMun, Tonlé Sap, Kok, Ruak
Close

Its name comes from the Khmer language "Mother Ganga". Me means Mother[2] and Kong means Ganga (Ganges).[3]

The Mekong is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world, with hundreds of types of fish, as well as river dolphins, crocodiles, and otters. Fishing is a very important activity on the river.[4] However, the Mekong River is also used extensively for navigation.

"Cambodia's plan to build a canal from the Mekong River basin to the Cambodian coast", has support (2024) from Vietnam's authorities, according to media.[5]

Dams

The river has dams:

  • Guoduo Dam[6]
  • Miaowei
  • Gongguoqiao
  • Xiaowan
  • Manwan
  • Dachaoshan
  • Nuozhadu
  • Jinghong

Dams that are being built in China, are:

  • Gushui
  • Wunonglong
  • Huangdeng
  • Dahuaqiao

Dams that are being built in Laos, are:

  • Xayaburi
  • Don Sahong

Dams that are planned (as of 2017), include:

  • Pak Beng Dam (planned finished in 2022)
  • Latsua (planned finished in 2023)
  • Sanakham (planned finished in 2024)

References

Other websites

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