Mekong River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mekong |
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| Mae Num Khong, Lancang Jiang, Mae Khaung, Menam Khong, Mekongk, Tonle Thom, Song Cu'u Long | |
| River | |
 The Mekong in Laos
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| Countries | China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Source | Lasagongma Spring |
| - location | Mount Guozhongmucha, Qinghai, China |
| - elevation | 5,224 m (17,139 ft) |
| - coordinates | 33°42′31″N 94°41′44″E / 33.70861°N 94.69556°E |
| Mouth | Mekong Delta |
| - location | South China Sea, Vietnam |
| Length | 4,350 km (2,703 mi) |
| Basin | 795,000 km² (306,951 sq mi) |
The Mekong River is a very long river in Southeast Asia. It flows through six different countries: China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The Mekong starts high up in the plateaus of Tibet in China. From there, it travels about 2,703 miles (4,350 km) south-east before reaching the South China Sea.
The area of land that drains into the Mekong, called its watershed, is huge. It covers about 307,000 square miles (797,000 square kilometers). The river's name comes from the Thai language words Mae Num, which means "Mother Water."
The Mekong is one of the most amazing places for wildlife in the world. It is home to hundreds of types of fish. You can also find river dolphins, crocodiles, and otters here. Fishing is a very important activity for the people living along the river. The Mekong River is also used a lot for navigation, meaning boats travel on it.
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Dams on the Mekong River
A dam is a large wall built across a river. Dams help control the flow of water and can be used to create electricity. Many dams have been built on the Mekong River, especially in China and Laos.
Why are dams built?
Dams are built for several reasons. They can store water for farming and provide drinking water. They also help prevent floods. A big reason is to create hydroelectricity, which is power made from moving water.
Impact of dams
While dams offer benefits, they can also change the river's natural flow. This can affect the animals that live in the river, like fish that need to swim freely to lay their eggs. It can also change how much water reaches farms downstream.
Examples of dams
Some of the dams already built in China include:
- Guoduo Dam
- Xiaowan Dam
- Nuozhadu Dam
New dams are also being built or planned. For example, in Laos, the Xayaburi Dam and Don Sahong dam are being built. More dams are planned for the future, like the Pak Beng Dam.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Mekong River south of Chamdo.
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The Mekong from Phou si
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The confluence of the Mekong and the Nam Ou Rivers, Laos
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Floating homes on the Mekong, Cambodia
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Mekong Delta, Vietnam
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The Mekong in Laos
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Floating market, Cần Thơ, Mekong delta
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Cầu khỉ (monkey bridge) and small nước mắm (fish sauce) workshop on the bank of the Tiền River (branch of Mekong), Binh Dai District, Ben Tre Province, Vietnam
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Hamlet, Tiền River, Binh Dai District, Ben Tre Province, Vietnam
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19th century map showing the Mekong river as the "Mei-Kong" river
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Members of the Mekong expedition of 1866–1868
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Extirpated from most of its pan-Asian range, Cantor's giant softshell turtle can still be found along a stretch of the Mekong in Cambodia (Khmer called "Kanteay")
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Bank erosion on the Song Tien, a Mekong branch, Binh Dai District, Ben Tre Province, Vietnam.
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Fish Farming on Mekong branch, Song Tien, Đồng Tháp Province, Vietnam
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Mekong ferry, Neak Loeung, Cambodia
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Slow cruise boats, Pakbeng, Laos
See also
In Spanish: Río Mekong para niños
