Yellow River facts for kids

Yellow River or Huáng Hé

The Yellow River at Lanzhou

The Yellow River (known as Huáng Hé in Chinese) is a very important river in China. It is the second longest river in China, right after the Yangtze River. It's also the sixth longest river in the whole world!

This amazing river stretches for 5,464 kilometers (about 3,395 miles). It flows all the way to the Bohai Sea, which is a part of the Yellow Sea. Many people in China call the Yellow River the "Mother River of China." They also call it "the Cradle of Chinese Civilization." This is because ancient Chinese culture and history began along its banks. In old Chinese stories, people believed a river god named Hebo lived in the Yellow River.

Why is it Called the Yellow River?

The Yellow River gets its name from the huge amount of yellow silt, or fine soil, that it carries. This silt comes from the Loess Plateau, a region of dusty soil. As the river flows, it picks up this yellow soil, making the water look muddy and yellow. This silt also builds up on the riverbed, which can cause the river to flood.

The River's Journey

The Yellow River starts high up in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai province. It flows through many different landscapes. These include mountains, plateaus, and plains. It passes through nine provinces and regions in China.

Famous Bends and Dams

The river has many famous bends, like the Qiankun bend in Yonghe County. Along its path, several important dams have been built. These dams help control floods and generate electricity. One example is the Liujiaxia Dam in Gansu province.

Life Around the Yellow River

For thousands of years, people have lived and farmed along the Yellow River. The fertile soil brought by the river's floods helped ancient farmers grow crops. This allowed early Chinese civilizations to grow and thrive.

Animals of the Yellow River

The Yellow River and its surrounding areas are home to various animals. Some fish, like the paradise fish, live in its waters. Turtles, such as the Chinese pond turtle and the Chinese softshell turtle, are also native to the river. These animals are an important part of the river's ecosystem.

The Yellow River Delta

Near where the Yellow River meets the sea, it forms a large area called the Yellow River Delta. This delta is constantly changing as the river deposits more silt. It's an important wetland area for many birds and other wildlife. Over the years, the delta has expanded quite a bit due to the silt buildup.

Images for kids

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  The Yellow River Breaches its Course by Ma Yuan (1160–1225), Song dynasty

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  The Yellow River as depicted in a Qing dynasty illustrated map (sections)

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  Historical courses of the Yellow River

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  Chinese Nationalist Army soldiers during the 1938 Yellow River flood.

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  Zoigê County, Sichuan.

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  Near Xunhua, Qinghai.

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  At Lanzhou, Gansu

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  Qiankun bend in Yonghe County

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  The mouth of the Daxia River (coming from bottom right), flowing into the Yellow River's Liujiaxia Reservoir in Linxia Prefecture, Gansu

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  Expansion of the Yellow River Delta from 1989 to 2009 in five year intervals.

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  Liujiaxia Dam, Gansu

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  The paradise fish is well known in the aquarium hobby and it originates from East Asian river basins, including the Yellow River

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  The Chinese pond turtle (shown) and Chinese softshell turtle are both native to the Yellow River, but also farmed in large numbers

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  Qikou town along Yellow River in Shanxi Province

See also

In Spanish: Río Amarillo para niños