10 Mind-Blowing Facts About the Yangtze River

There are rivers worldwide, and all of them have served a purpose in their lifetime. Whether it is to supply animals and humans with water or ensure rainforests, mountains, and other natural wonders are thriving. There is one particular river that is amazing and stunning. The Yangtze River is located in China and is a sight. Let’s take a look at 10 mind-blowing facts about the Yangtze River.

1. Longest River in Asia

The Yangtze River means long river in Chinese, and it makes sense. It is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest river in the entire world. Only the Nile River and the Amazon are longer. Measuring 3,975 miles long, the Yangtze River has a total area of 698,000 square miles. The river also creates a natural border between North and South China. 

2. Drainage Basin

Perhaps one of the most important things that the Yangtze River is known for is its large drainage basin. The basin is so big that it encompasses 20% of China’s land area. There are 11 regions that the Yangtze River flows through.

3. Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The river starts in the mountains of Tibet. Hidden in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Yangtze River flows from the southwestern side of the Tanggula Mountains’ main peak. From there the Yangtze River makes its way to the East China Sea, traversing through most of the country.

4. Influential History

The Yangtze River has been an influential one for thousands of years. Various cultures came out from the Yangtze River which ensured a triumphant history and development. These cultures came up with various means of transportation trade with other regions in China and beyond, as well. Considered the “Mother River” of China, its influential history is just one reason why it is amazing.

5. Three Gorges Dam

Constructed in 2009, the Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydropower station in the world. Approximately 100 billion KWh of electricity is generated every single year to power the daily lives of 200 million people. However, there has been some controversy with the construction of the Three Gorges Dam because it has also impacted the environment. 

6. Yangtze River Delta

Approximately 10% of China’s population lives along the Yangtze River Delta, as well as 4% of the country’s land area. Various major cities border the river delta including Shanghai, Nanjing, and Wenzhou, among others.

7. Number of Tributaries

Yangtze River is so large that it has a whopping 700 tributaries. Eight of those tributaries have a basin area of more than 19,000 square miles. The Minjiang River is one tributary with the largest runoff and the Jialing River is the tributary with the largest basin. There are also more than 50 bridges that cross the Yangtze or its tributaries.

8. Abundant Wildlife

The Yangtze River is rich in the amount of wildlife that it contains. There are more than 400 species of fish throughout the Yangtze basin. Almost 200 of them are endemic. Unfortunately, because of the pollution that has plagued the river, many fish species have declined throughout the years and some of them are nearly extinct. Overfishing is one of the problems, which is why the Chinese government issued a fishing ban on all the river’s drainage basins.

9. Economic Powerhouse

Yangtze River and the area surrounding it is perhaps one of the most developed and wealthiest parts of the country. Around 35% of the grain grown in the country grows along the Yangtze River and its tributaries. Approximately 70% of rice is grown in the Yangtze River basin. Overall, the Yangtze River has provided many Chinese people with countless jobs and a lot of money. 

10. Yangtze Cruise Tours

Besides sustaining the economies of millions of people, the Yangtze River cruises between Chongqing and Yichang are one of the most beloved and popular cruise tours in the world. These cruise tours do wonders for the economies of the people living along the river. You also get to discover the natural landscapes of the surrounding areas of the Yangtze River. 

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are the 10 mind-blowing facts about the Yangtze River. It is the longest river in Asia and has been an important waterway in China and the region surrounding the river. If you get the opportunity to take a river cruise on the Yangtze, make sure you look at its spectacular form and the stunning natural landscapes around the river.