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 river in the south-east of 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, disputed part of China, 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). Its name comes from the Thai language's Mae Num, or literally, "Mother Water".
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. However, the Mekong River is also used extensively for navigation.
Contents
Dams
The river has dams:
- Guoduo Dam
- 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)
Related pages
Government, corporate, environment and technical
Travel, culture and history
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
