YANGTSÉ RIVER: HISTORY, CHARACTERISTICS, ROUTE, TRIBUTARIES, FLORA - GEOGRAPHY - 2024

The Yangtze River, located in China, is an impressive flow that runs for approximately 6,300 km, having a basin of 1,800,000 km ^². This has made it the third largest river in the world, only surpassed by the Amazon and the Nile, and the longest in its country and continent.

Although internationally it is known by the name of Yangtze, Yangtze or Yangzi, locally it is named differently in each town it passes through. The entire tributary in your country is called Cháng Jiāng, whose literal translation is "long river" or Yang Tsê-Kiang, "blue river."

Yangtze River Tour. Source: Demis Web Map Server

Its strong flow is of great importance in Chinese territory since it represents 40% of the water used in the country. Also, at an economic level this river represents a vital factor for agricultural production. On the other hand, its waters serve the largest Chinese hydroelectric plant and the largest dam in the world, the Three Gorges.

History

Source: kung.jon

This river, called by some the main street of China, has a history that goes back 45 million years. A study determined that at this point the Yangtze water began its flow due to the trail that is evidenced in the rocks through which it runs, which was carving them on its way.

Other sources, meanwhile, indicate that its formation can be found 20 million years earlier, between the Paleocene and the Eocene. Its origin, according to this theory, is found in the volcanic activity as well as the tectonic movements that gave rise to the Tibetan plateau causing the flow of water.

Arrival of the human being

Samples of human activity in the vicinity of the river have been found, these have an approximate age of 2 million years ago, during the Pleistocene, when human beings expanded their populations from being nomadic to being stationary.

From the year 770 a. Different tribes have settled in different parts of the river, both in its upper part and in its lower part. Some of them have been the Shu, Ba, Yue, Chu and Wu tribe. In turn, various dynasties had their capital in Nangjing given the strategic location of its protected by the river.

The first appearance of the Yangtze River on British maps is located in the 13th century. It is said that there, at the suggestion of Marco Polo, this river course received the name of Quian and Quiansui. In turn, it is said that the current name derives from the ferry that communicated one shore with the other.

Modernization and exploitation

In 1900, transportation across the Yangtze River as it is known today began, thanks to a British company whose steam boat made the first trip upriver, dispensing with the oars. But this route was not without danger, given the power of the flow that the river possessed.

The population on land was not out of danger from the great river either. This being a torrent that grows easily, between May and October its valleys are threatened by floods. Until 1998 there were records of several of them, the worst being the one that occurred in 1931 with a balance of between 100,000 and 4 million victims.

As a solution to these problems and to take advantage of water for hydroelectric purposes, the Gezhouba dam was built in the late 1980s. Until the construction of the Three Gorges dam in 2008, Gezhouba was the holder of the title a the largest dam in China.

As a result of these two constructions, the flow has decreased, allowing the river to be navigable in its entirety by medium-sized ships and, to a large extent, by larger ships. Likewise, the population has not been affected again by floods. This has been positive economically and for tourism, but it has had a negative effect on its ecosystem.

From its beginnings until it empties, the Yangtze traces a horizontal line that is traditionally taken as a division between the north and the south of the country. Although for a time its flow was a barrier between both parties, politically and strategically speaking, it ended up being a disadvantage.

The main method of transportation between one end and the other was the ferry. Those who went by train had to leave it, cross the river and then take another. In 1945 a disaster known as Zhong'anlunen occurred in which 800 people die when a ferry sinks.

This did not find a solution until 1949, when Mao Zedong, the leader of the People's Republic of China, decided to defeat nature. For this purpose, two bridges were built with the help of Soviet engineering, the first in Wuhan (1957) and the second in Chongqing (1959). Finally in 1968 the Nanking Bridge was established, built entirely with native technology.

Between 1950 and 1980, with the advent of industrialization, the Yangtze River became a point of interest for the country and its economic development. Being this the largest river artery in China, its waters have been exploited for irrigation of industrial areas as well as for the transfer of cargo ships.

Present

Since its first steps into modern times, the advances on the Yangtze River have increased. The number of bridges that cross it now approaches hundreds and its river route is calmer, helping both internal and external tourism.

However, this has not eliminated the threats to the river. This is among the most polluted in the world due to the large amount of waste that is thrown into its waters, 40% of the country, despite the effort that has been made to reduce them.

This has had a negative impact on its biodiversity, ending with a high number of species, some of them only found in this basin such as the baiji, a type of river dolphin. In turn, other species are now in danger of extinction.

General characteristics

The Yangtze is of the monsoon type since it receives rainwater between the months of May and August. Photo: Andes News Agency.

The Yangtze River, with an average flow of 31,900 m³ / s, is of the monsoon type since it receives rainwater between the months of May and August, which increases its flow and then decreases between September and April. In winter it is its lowest season.

It has more than 6,000 km of extension and a basin of more than 1,800,000 km ^². Together it drains a fifth of the Chinese surface. At the same time, a third of the total population resides in its basin. Its impact on the economy represents 20% of GDP.

Thanks to its length it has the title of the third longest river in the world, as well as the longest river to flow in the same country. A total of 8 provinces, two municipalities and the autonomous region of Tibet travel in a Central-West to East direction, tracing a zigzag until they converge on the sea.

In its middle and lower part it is divided into different wetlands and lakes, which are connected to each other, forming a kind of spider web that allows the distribution of fauna. However, due to the modifications in its course that it has received from the human, this has been lost.

In its more than 6,000 km in length, the Yangtze is witness to a great cultural diversity, as well as ecosystems. From the Naxi and Tibetans who live in mountains far from the rest of the world, through the Buddhist holy sites and relaxation and culminating in the bustling industrial zone.

In each area through which it runs it receives a different name. At its beginning it is called Dangqu, river of swamps, or Drichu. At its midpoint it is known as Jinsha, a river of golden sands. Downstream, on the other hand, it is known as the river that passes through the sky or Tongtian.

Another consequence of this wide range of cities is the variety of climates. The Yangtze passes through some of the well-known "oven cities" in China, which are characterized by very strong heat in summer. At the same time, it runs through others that remain warm all year round and some with extreme cold in winter.

The valleys of the blue river have great fertility. The Yangtze plays a fundamental role in the irrigation of cereal crops, rice being the most cultivated with 70% of the production, wheat and barley; grains, such as beans and corn; as well as cotton.

The river is threatened by pollution, overfishing, over-dams, and deforestation. However, despite these alarms - largely caused by overpopulation and the consequences for its fauna - the river remains one of the most biodiverse bodies of water.

Birth

The Yangtze has its origin approximately 5,000 km high, in the Quinghai Autonomous Region, specifically the eastern part of the Tibet Plateau. Among the Tanggula Mountains is the Mount Geladandong glacier where the Tuotuo River is born, the farthest tributary of the great river. The coordinates of his birth are: 32 ° 36′14 ″ N 94 ° 30′44 ″ E.

Like other flows of this magnitude, the Yangtze is also formed in its origin by others of less magnitude called tributaries or headwaters. In this case there are two main headwaters, the Toutou River on one side and the Min River on the other.

Although the route may vary depending on the source, the most accepted is the one that begins in the Toutou, runs through the Tongtian and ends in the Jinsha. Finally, in the city of Yibin, where the Jinsha and the Min meet, the Yangtze adopts this name to begin its flow across China.

R

To analyze the total route that the Yangtze River makes, it is necessary to observe it by the sections into which it is commonly divided. These three sections are the upper one from Yibin to Yichang; the middle from Yichang to Hukou County; and the lower one from Hukou to the sea. Below is a map of the mouth, with coordinates 31 ° 23′37 ″ N 121 ° 58′59 ″ E:

Upper section

This section is the one with the greatest extension, almost half the river, starting in mountainous and distant Tibet. It flows in a southeasterly direction until it reaches the border between Tibet and Sichuan. Until Yunnan it continues in a southerly direction, but at this point it makes its first northeast turn.

At this point is the Salto del Tigre Gorge. This ravine is an attractive tourist point as it is one of the deepest in the world. This site gets its name from a legend that says that a tiger made a jump over the river in its narrowest part, fleeing from a hunter.

Continue on a curvy course until entering Hubei, where the Yangtze meets the Gezhouba Dam and the Three Gorges Dam. The Three Gorges, as a geographical accident, is another point that attracts a large number of tourists for its beauty and visual impact.

The first gorge, known as Qutang, is the shortest and also the most attractive. Then there is the throat Wu, or witch, which leads to a smaller version of the Three Gorges. Finally, there is the Xiling Gorge, a western chain, known for its walkways and caves.

Middle section

As it descends from its initial height, the Yangtze continues to enter the plain, taking the turns typical of this type of terrain, increasingly oriented to the east of the country. The plain is used as a place of flooding, which reduces the risk in populated areas.

This section does not stand out for its tourist attraction as it is a peaceful area and without many changes. However, it receives multiple tributaries. Additionally, the river serves as a border three times: between Hubei and Hunan; then between Hubei and Jiangxi; finally, between Jiangxi and Anhui.

The end of this section occurs in Hukou, where the Yangtze converged with the now extinct Poyang Lake, in Jiangxi. This used to be the largest freshwater lake in China. At this point, the Yangtze is at a level not far above the sea to start its final leg.

Lower leg

The main characteristic of the lands in which the Yangtze flows in its lower course is its fertility. This has given the area the nickname "land of fish and rice" by the inhabitants of the country. In turn, this is the most populated part since the source of the river.

The Yellow Mountain, in Anhui, welcomes the final stretch of the Rio Grande, a place known for its relationship with the Yellow Emperor, one of the highest-ranking figures in Chinese mythology. The river continues its journey, widening its width as it enters the delta zone.

It eventually empties into the East China Sea, north of Shanghai. At this point, an estuary is formed where the fresh waters of the Yangtze and salty waters of the sea converge, forming an ecological system of its own different from the maritime and fluvial.

Main cities that travels

Source: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

The Yangtze River bathes a significant part of China with its waters. On its way from Tibet to the sea, it visits multiple cities of major and minor importance, impregnated with its climate and culture. For each of the inhabitants of them it means life and progress.

The great river runs through the Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. Additionally, he visits the Tibet Autonomous Region and the municipalities of Chongqing and Shanghai. In this way, some of the main cities that it travels are:

- Wuhan

- Yichang

- Nanjing

- Jingzhou

- Wanzhou

- Yibin

- Nantong

- Tongling

- Zhenjiang

- Jiangyang

Tributaries

To maintain its powerful flow, in addition to the water received in the rainy season, the Yangtze receives a large number of tributaries from its source to its end. In total, there are more than 700 smaller channels that feed the Yangtze. One of the most important is the Han, in its middle course.

At its head, the most important rivers that flow into the Yangtze are the Jinsha-Tongtian-Tuotuo system, the Yalong River and the Min River. In its upper course are the Wu rivers through the right branch; and the Jialing on its left side.

In its middle section, on the other hand, it receives the waters of Dongting Lake, which in turn is fed by rivers such as the Yuan and the Xiang. Additionally, it receives the torrential Han River on its left flank. In its lower course it has the Huai He as a tributary. The Yangtze used to feed back at this point with Lake Poyang, but it is currently dry.

Flora

Juniper (Juniperus_communis). Source: Rasbak at Dutch Wikipedia

At various points along the Yangtze route, vegetation has been removed, especially for human use of the soil. This represents a strong threat, as the plants lose their ability to absorb water and which can lead to the elimination of habitats.

Despite this factor, which prevents identifying the type of native vegetation and that which has been introduced by man, it is still possible to find a river's own flora, especially in less populated areas such as those found in the upper reaches and part of the river. medium.

Acer palmatum, type of broadleaf tree. Source: AnRo0002

The upper part of the river, being a mountainous region, has exponents such as willows and junipers, as well as other alpine shrubs. The middle course, represented by broadleaf forests and bushes, ends in a plain that the river usually floods.

The lower course, with a higher population, has been taken in its great majority for the cultivation of cereals, for which almost all of the region's own plant has been deforested, leaving only some bushes. In the estuary, when it empties into the sea, it is possible to see aquatic plants such as mangroves.

Fauna

Chinese Aligator. Source: Greg Hume

The Yangtze River is one of the most biodiverse bodies of water in the world. In studies carried out in 2011, there were 416 species of fish only, of which approximately 112 are endemic to its waters. There are also around 160 species of amphibians, as well as reptiles, mammals that drink from its waters and aquatic birds.

The main species of fish that inhabit the Yangtze are those of the order Cipriniformes, although it is possible to find in less quantity others of the order Siluriformes and Perciformes. Those of the order Tetraodontiformes and Osmeiformes are the rarest among them.

Factors such as overfishing, pollution, and the number of constructions that intervene in the river's course have ended or endangered a multitude of endemic species, of which only 4 out of 178 can inhabit the entire course.

Some of the species that can only be found in this area are the Yangtze sturgeon and the Chinese sturgeon, the finless porpoise, the Chinese paddlefish, the Chinese alligator, the northern snakehead fish, as well as the giant Chinese salamander..

Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis). Source: Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas

Previously, the Yangtze used to be home to two of the most representative species of the environmental disaster it has suffered: the giant softshell tortoise and the Yangtze dolphin (known as the baiji). Both have been declared functionally extinct, after being critically endangered.

References

1. Yangtze River: the longest waterway in China. Article from the iagua blog published on April 12, 2019. Recovered from iagua.es.
2. The Yangtze River and the Three Gorges Dam. Aquae Fundación blog article published on September 22, 2016. Recovered from fundacionaquae.org.
3. Yangtze River. GeoEnciclopedia blog article published on February 5, 2016.
4. Van Slyke, Lyman P. 1988. Yangtze: nature, history, and the river. Stanford Book.
5. Terrasa, D. Yangtze River. Entry published in the blog La Guía on August 21, 2019. Recovered from geografia.laguia2000.com.