China. Geography, description and characteristics of the country

The basins of more than one and a half thousand rivers exceed 1000 square meters. km. The average annual flow of rivers in China is about 2.7 trillion cubic meters, ranking sixth in the world after Brazil, Russia, Canada, the United States and Indonesia. More famous rivers in China: Yangtze, Huanghe, Heilongjiang, Yalutsangpo, Zhujiang, Huihe, etc. The Tarim River in Xinjiang is the longest inland river in China, with a length of 2,100 km.

Main rivers

The Yangtze is the largest river in China, originates in the snow-capped mountains of Geladandong of the Tangla mountain system, flows through 11 provinces, autonomous regions and cities of central subordination and flows into the East China Sea, its total length is 6300 km, it ranks 3rd in length place in the world and 1st place in Asia. The Yangtze has many tributaries, the main ones are: Yalongjiang, Minjiang, Jialingjiang, Hanjiang, Wujiang, Xiangjiang, Ganjiang, etc. The basin area is 1.8 million square meters. km, or 18.8% total area territory of China. The Yangtze is an important shipping route in China. On the stretch of the Yangtze River from Fengjie County in Chongqing to Yichang in Hubei Province, the Sanxia Canyon is 193 km long. The construction of the famous Sanxia Hydroelectric Complex began in 1994 and completed in 2009, which can curb rare floods, and the annual electricity generation will be 84.7 billion kWh, the hydroelectric complex will also improve the fairway, provide water to cities and towns on average and lower reaches of the river, for irrigation of field lands.

The Yellow River is the second largest river in China, originates in the northern spurs of the Baiangla Mountains in Qinghai Province and flows through nine provinces and autonomous regions, flows into the Bohai Sea. The length of the Yellow River is 5464 km, its basin covers an area of ​​more than 750 thousand square meters. km. The number of its main tributaries is more than 40. The main ones are Fenhe and Weihe. The soil of the Loess Plateau, through which the Yellow River flows, contains a lot of calcium carbonate, which is very hard when dry, but when it rains, it instantly turns into a liquid, easily washed off with water. A large amount of silt and sand, along with water, enter the Yellow River, turning it into a river with the largest silt content in the world, as a result, the height of the Yellow River's channel rises by 10 cm annually. At present, many hydroelectric facilities have already been built in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, such , like Longyangxia, Lujiaxia, Qingtongxia.

Heilongjiang flows through the northern part of the country, the border river between China and Russia, its basin covers an area of ​​more than 900 thousand square meters. km, the length of the river within China is 3420 km.

Yalutsangpo originates from the Kimayangzom glacier in the northern spurs of the Himalayas in Zhongba County, the length of the river within China is 2057 km, the basin area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich is 240480 square meters. km, the average height above sea level of the basin is about 4500 m, is the river with the highest altitude in the world above sea level.

Zhujiang is the largest river in South China, the total length is 2214 km, the basin area is 453.69 thousand square meters. km, in terms of water resources, it ranks second in China, second only to the Yangtze.

Huihe: basin area - 269.238 thousand square meters km, total length - 1000 km.

Songhuajiang: basin area - 557.18 thousand square meters km, total length - 2308 km.

Liaohe: basin area - 228.96 thousand square meters. km, total length - 1390 km.

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was dug in the 5th century BC. e., leads from Beijing to Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It pulls from north to south for 1800 km, flows through the cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang provinces, links the Haihe, Huanghe, Huaihe, Yangtze and Qiantangjiang rivers, making it the earliest and longest artificial canal in the world .

lakes

China is rich in lakes, with 2,800 lakes over 1 sq. km each and 130 lakes with an area of ​​more than 100 km each. In addition, many artificial lakes and reservoirs are also scattered throughout the country. These lakes can be divided into fresh and salty. Large lakes are scattered mainly in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The largest freshwater lake in China is Poyang, the largest salty lake is Qinghaihu.

One of the attractions of China is its rivers. If you add up the length of all, then in total you get 220 thousand km.

The water arteries of the country form the internal and external systems. Outer rivers flow into the sea or have access to the ocean. There are few internal rivers, and they are located at a significant distance from each other, flow into lakes or are lost in swamps and deserts. In many parts of China's rivers have become shallow.

Among the abundance of rivers, there are those that are known to the whole world and enjoy special love among tourists - the Huang He, the Yangtze, the Zhujiang.

Huanghe

This is one of largest rivers Asia. Translated into Russian, it means "Yellow River". And its water is actually yellow. This color gives it sand. It, in turn, flows into the Yellow Sea. It is believed that it was on the banks of this that the Chinese ethnos began its history and formation. That is why the Yellow River of China is rich in tourism resources, and the whole history of the great Chinese people is reflected on its banks. That is why river tours offered by numerous travel agencies are quite popular. Huang He was included in the list of twelve state tourist routes.

On the banks of the river you can meet peoples who have managed to preserve their original and colorful customs. There are quite a lot of monuments of architecture, antiquity, culture. There is always something to see here. These are statues of warriors and horses in the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, Buddhist relics in Shanxi province, the legendary Shaolin wushu school and much more. Unique landscapes amaze with their beauty.

Yangtze

This river is also called Blue. Arriving in China, you probably expect to see clean and transparent waters. But it's not. In fact, the Yangtze is rather muddy, and it most likely got its name in opposition to the Yellow River. Another common name is "Long River", or Changjiang. But this is the pure truth, because this water artery is one of the longest and full-flowing in Eurasia. Its length is 6 thousand km, and in some places it reaches a width of 2.5 km!

The Blue River of China has many sights and beauties. For example, its shores are formed mainly by mountains covered with green vegetation and steep gorges. The upper Leaping Tiger Gorge is the deepest in the world. The height of the stone walls is 2 thousand meters, and the height of the mountains towering above it reaches 4 thousand meters! Of the man-made "miracles" of the dam and hydroelectric power station, which are the largest in the world.

Zhujiang

The Pearl River of China also got its name not at all because it contains pearls, but because of the island that lies in the middle of the channel. This is a rock that over time was polished by nature almost to a radiant sheen, which is why it began to resemble a pearl. The island is called the Sea Pearl. Zhujiang ranks third in the ranking of "China's longest rivers" with a score of 2129 km.

One of the most favorite entertainments for tourists is a night river cruise in Guangzhou. A magnificent picture opens up to tourists: the bright lights of the city are reflected in the dark jade waters. Everything looks quite romantic!

The basins of more than one and a half thousand Chinese rivers cover an area of ​​​​over 1000 square meters. km. According to average data, the annual river flow in China reaches about 2.8 trillion cubic meters, being in the sixth position in the world in this indicator, second only to Brazil, Canada, Russia, the United States and Indonesia. The most famous and largest rivers in China are the Yangtze, Huanghe, Yalutsangpo, Heilongjiang, Huihe, Zhujiang, etc.

Main rivers of China.

The Yangtze is the largest river in China. Starting in the snow-capped mountains of Geladandong, the Tanggla mountain system, it makes its way through 11 provinces, autonomous regions and settlements central subordination and flows into the East China Sea. The total length reaches 6300 km, according to this indicator, it ranks 3rd on earth and first in Asia. The Yangtze has a sufficient number of tributaries, the largest of them are: Yalongjiang, Jialingjiang, Minjiang, Ganjiang, Hanjiang, Xiangjiang, Wujiang, etc. The size of the pool is 1.8 million square meters. km, which is equal to 18.6% of the total area of ​​the Republic of China. The Yangtze is a major shipping route in the country. On the segment of the Yangtze River from the city of Chongqing, Fengjie district to Yichang, in the province of Hubei, there is the Sanxia Canyon, 195 km long. The construction of the large Sanxia hydroelectric complex dates back to 1994 and was completed only in 2009. According to the project, it will be able to prevent periodic floods, and the production of electricity per year will reach 85.3 billion kWh, thus, the hydroelectric complex will improve the fairway, supply water to settlements in the middle and lower sections of the river, for further irrigation of field areas.

The Yellow River is the largest river in China, after the Yangtze. It originates in the northern highlands of the Baiangla Mountains (Qinghai Province) and runs through nine provinces and autonomous regions, right into the Bohai Sea. The length of the Yellow River reaches 5464 km, the total basin area is more than 760 thousand square meters. km. The total number of its main tributaries is more than 40. The largest of which are Weihe and Fenhe. Along the banks of the Yellow River, namely in the soil of the Loess Plateau, large reserves of calcium carbonate are concentrated, which is very hard in dry form, but you need to rain a little, as it immediately turns into a liquid, easily washed off with water. A significant amount of mixed silt and sand, together with rainwater, is sent to the Yellow River, thereby turning it into the river with the highest silt content on the planet, as a result, the height of the Yellow River every year rises by 8-12 cm. During this period, in the upper reaches of the Chinese enough waterworks have already been built on the Yellow River, for example, Lujiaxia, Longyanxia, ​​Qingtongxia.

The Heilongjiang River runs through the northern part of the state, acts as a dividing line between China and Russia, the basin area is more than 900 thousand square meters. km, and the duration of the river within the borders of China is 3420 km.

The Yalutsangpo River begins its flow at the Kimayangzom Glacier in the northern section of the Himalayan Mountains in the Zhongba region. The duration of the river within the borders of China is 2057 km, the basin covers an area of ​​240480 square meters. km, the average height above sea level of the basin reaches 4500 m, and according to these values ​​it is considered the river with the highest height above sea level in the world.

The Pearl River is the largest river in South China. The total length is 2315 km, the basin area is 454.71 thousand square meters. km, and in terms of water resources, it is in second place in China, second only to the Yangtze.

Huihe River: basin area - about 268,240 thousand square meters. km, the total length is almost 1000 km.

Songhuajiang River: basin area - 556.17 thousand square meters. km, the total length is over 2300 km.

Liaohe River: basin area 229.97 thousand square meters. km, the total duration is almost 1400 km.

The Great Chinese Canal Beijing-Hangzhou was founded in the 5th century BC. e., connects Beijing and the city of Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province. It runs from north to south for more than 1800 km, crosses such large cities as Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang provinces, connects the Haihe, Huaihe, Huanghe, Qiantangjiang and Yangtze rivers, which makes it the first and longest artificial channel on earth.

Lakes of China.

China is also rich in lakes. Thus, there are about 2900 lakes, with an area of ​​more than 1 sq. km each and 120 lakes, with an area of ​​more than 100 km each. In addition, many reservoirs and artificial lakes are scattered across the territory of the republic. These lakes can be divided into fresh and salty. big lakes concentrated mainly along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Qinghai-Tibet region. The largest freshwater Chinese lake is Poyang, the largest among salty lakes is Qinghaihu.

Brief Geography of China

China is a country with numerous rivers. On the territory of China, which occupies over 9.6 million square meters. km, flow the most diverse rivers in length and category, large and small, quiet and stormy, long and short, which, like the industrious Chinese people, increase the wealth of the country, giving it a valuable resource - water. And they all play an extremely important role in soil irrigation, ship navigation, power generation, urban water supply, cultural development, and in many other areas of the country's economy and construction.

If you select rivers by the area of ​​their valley, which exceeds 100 sq. km, then there are 50 thousand such rivers in China. If you select rivers by the area of ​​their valley, which exceeds 1,000 sq. km, there are 1,500 of them in China. The total annual flow of all rivers in China is 2.600 billion cubic meters. m. And if you connect the natural rivers of China into a single chain, then its total length would reach 430 thousand km. In other words, this chain would wrap around the water area 10.5 times. Such famous Chinese rivers as the Yangtze, Huang He, Lancangjiang and Heilongjiang are among the ten largest rivers in the world. China is a country with a vast territory. The geographical location determines the difference in the climates of different regions and the uneven nature of the rivers. According to the different forms of river flow and circulation of water resources, China's rivers are generally divided into the following two categories.

The watershed line between the basin of internal and external rivers begins in the north from the point of contact of the Greater Khingan ridge with the Mongolian border and then stretches southwest along the ridges of Inshan, Helanshan (Alashan), Qilianshan, Bayan-Khara-Ula, Tangla and Kailas and ends at western section state border. In addition to the Ordos Plateau, a site on the Sungari-Nenjiang Plain and Lake Yamjoyum-Tso south of the river. Yalutsangbujiang, all areas to the south and east of this line belong to the basins of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. To the northwest of this line lies the basin of internal rivers (with the exception of the Black Irtysh basin).

The rivers in China are characterized by full flow, abundance, rich resources and diversity of water systems to which they belong. In addition to natural rivers, China also has many artificial canals. Among them, the most famous is the Great Chinese Canal "Beijing-Hangzhou", which crosses Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Its total length is 1,801 km, which is ten times the Suez Canal and twenty times the Panama Canal. The construction of this ancient Chinese canal began as early as the 5th century. BC. This is the oldest and longest canal in the world.

Yangtze— longest river in china

The Yangtze crosses China. It is called the cradle of the Chinese nation, the hearth and home of ancient Chinese culture. It is characterized by full-flowing current, huge length and extraordinary beauty. The Yangtze is the symbol of the Chinese nation. The Yangtze is the longest river in Asia.

The Yangtze bears different names in different parts of the Yangtze. The main source of the Yangtze is called Totohe (Ulan Muren). The section from the source to Batanhekou is called Tongtianhe (Murui-Us, Ji-Chu), the length is 1.188 km. The section from Batanghekou to Yibin is called Jinshajiang, the river crosses the border of Tibet and Sichuan and runs along the Hengduanshan mountain range. Its length here is 2.308 km. Starting from Yibin, where the Minjiang flows into the river, it is called the Changjiang. In the section from Yizhen to Yangzhou, the river is called the Yangtze.

Depending on various hydrological and geological features, the Yangtze is usually divided into three parts. The upper course is considered to be the part from the source to Yichang of Hubei Province, its length is 4.512 km .; from Yichang to Hukou of Jiangxi province - the middle course, length - 938 km .; from Hukou to the mouth of the Yangtze - lower reaches, length - 850 km. The average annual runoff of the Yangtze is 1,000 billion cubic meters. The Yangtze accounts for a third of China's total runoff. This volume is four times larger than the runoff of the largest river in Europe - the Volga. The relief in the Yangtze Valley is diverse: plateaus and mountainous areas occupy 65.6%, hills - 24%, plains and lowlands - 10.4%.

The Yangtze is the largest river in China. Its total length is 6,380 km. The area occupied by its valley is 1.8 million square meters. km. The origins of the Yangtze are on the slopes of Mount Basudan-Ula, the main peak of the Tanggla mountain range in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Flowing through 11 provinces, cities and autonomous regions such as Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shanghai, the river flows into the East China Sea. The Yangtze basin covers 16 provinces, cities and autonomous regions. It occupies one fifth of the territory of China.

The water system of the Yangtze was formed against a complex geological background. Approximately 200 million years ago, the sea roared in the region of present-day Tibet, Xinjiang, southern Qinghai, western Sichuan, central and western Yunnan, and western Guangxi. The movement of the earth's crust, which arose at a late stage jurassic and in the early stage of the Cretaceous period, led to the formation of folds of the earth's crust in the Tangla region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. That is how, in the gorges between Kunlun, Bayan-Khara-Ula and Tangla, the Ulan Muren River, the main source of the Yangtze, arose. Under the influence of the Himalayan mountain-building movement at the beginning of the Cenozoic era, the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau was continuously rising. And under the influence of breaks and the intersection of different geological layers in the area of ​​Murui-Usa, Jinshajiang, Minjiang.

Tojiang and Jialingjiang gorges and rivers gradually formed. The beginning of the Tertiary era was accompanied by a warm climate and abundant rains. Under the influence of strong erosion in the mountainous regions along the Yangtze, river currents formed in different geological strips along the river merged into a single large river, gradually connecting with their tributaries. For example, Murui-Us connected with Jinshajiang. And Jialingjiang and Minjiang in the Sichuan depression, merging, connected with the Yangtze. Further, heading east, the river took into its course several more large rivers of the Hunan and Jiangxi provinces.

The climate in the Yangtze Valley is predominantly subtropical, with seasonal winds. There is an abundance of water resources. Rains form 75-80% of the annual runoff, underground sources - 20-25%, a certain percentage is the product of melting glaciers and mountain snow. The Yangtze has many tributaries. 48 tributaries have a basin of 10 thousand square meters. km or more. The largest pool near the Jialingjiang River - 160 thousand square meters. km.

The Yangtze has enormous wealth in the form of untapped water resources. The height of the fall from the source to the mouth of the Yangtze is 6,600 meters. The height of the fall on the upper reaches of the Jinshajiang River is 3,300 meters. In many parts of the river, nature provides excellent conditions for the construction of large and medium-sized hydroelectric power plants. The Yangtze is also the most important artery in China's water transport network. The total length of navigation sections is 70 thousand km, which is 70% of the length of the country's river transport lines.

One of China's main grain granaries is located in the Yangtze basin. The catch of freshwater fish in the basin is over 60% of the gross production of fisheries in China. The Yangtze basin is famous for its vast territory and ancient history. On both banks are the most famous cities and historical monuments of China. Among them are Shanghai, Wuhan, Chongqing, Chengdu, Nanjing, Suzhou, Kunming and others.

Zhujiang - the result of the confluence of three famous rivers

Zhujiang originally referred to the waterway from Guangzhou to the mouth of the sea near Hukou. Its length is 96 km. Unlike other rivers in China, the Zhujiang has neither a common source, nor a common channel, nor even a common mouth. In fact, this is a combination of four water systems, namely: Xijiang, Beijiang, Dongjiang and Luxihe. The Pearl River is considered the third largest major river in China.

The formation of Xijiang, Beijiang and Dongjiang refers to the geological period of the Mesozoic era 100 million years ago. The rivers were formed under the influence of the Yangshan geological process. The band of faults, which are directed first from the northeast to the southwest, then from the northwest to the southeast, served as the basis for the formation of the geological structure of the three rivers.

Among these three rivers, the Xijiang is considered to be the longest. Its length is 2.197 km. The basin area is 350 thousand sq. km. It is usually called the main course of the Zhujiang. The main source of the Nanpanjiang originates in the Masyongshan Mountains in Yunnan Province. The river joins Beijiang at Sanshui City in Guangdong Province, then flows into the Zhujiang Delta and from there flows into the South China Sea at Modaomen.

The sources of Beijiang are located in the Dashishan Mountains of Xinfong County, Jiangxi Province and in Moshishen, west of Linwu County, Hunan Province. These sources merge in Shaoguang of Guangdong province and receive the name Beijiang there. The length of the river is 468 km. In Sanshui, Guangdong Province, it turns southeast, then it passes through the Zhujiang Delta and flows into the South China Sea at Hongqili.

Dongjiang has two sources: east and west in Xunwu County and Anyuan County, Jiangxi Province. Merged together in Longchuan County, Guangdong Province, they are called Dongjiang. The lower course of the Dongjiang passes through the Zhujiang Delta. The river flows into the South China Sea at Humen. The length of the river is 523 km. Mountains and hills occupy 94.5% of the total area of ​​the basin, while plains and depressions occupy only 5.5%.

The Zhujiang Basin is located in the tropical and subtropical zone, where strong seasonal winds are often observed. The average annual precipitation is 1,000-2,000 mm, in places 3,000 mm. The average annual flow is 341.2 billion cubic meters. In terms of total runoff, it is second only to the Yangtze and ranks second among the rivers of China.

The Zhujiang basin is characterized by an extraordinary concentration of water resources. According to theoretical estimates, explored, but undeveloped hydraulic capacity reaches 33.35 million kW. The estimated average annual electricity generation is 292.1 billion kWh, which is 5.8% of the country's gross production. In addition to the Han, the basin is inhabited by representatives of 10 national minorities - Zhuang, Miaochan, Yaochan, Buit, Maonan, Yiyan, Liyan, etc. There are also deposits of various non-ferrous metals, such as coal, manganese ores, iron, aluminum, tin, etc. The Zhujiang Valley is also one of the main grain-producing bases of the country, as well as a forestry base and a base for the production of tropical and subtropical crops. Cane sugar production here accounts for half of the country's gross output. Rubber, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, river fish, seafood, etc. are also produced here.

River basin area Zhujiang - 453.69 thousand square meters km, including 442.10 thousand square meters. km fall on Chinese territory. Half of the area is occupied by limestones; karst phenomena are often found here. Among the tourist attractions, one should highlight the ancient Buddhist rocks in Zhaoguang, the picturesque mountains and rivers in Guilin and Yangshuo, the caves and gorges in Zhaoqing, etc.

The Yellow River is the most sandy river in the world.

The Yellow River is the second largest river in China, one of the main centers of ancient Chinese civilization, the cradle of the Chinese nation. At the source of the river, the water is clear as a tear. Its middle course passes through the yellow earth plateau. The tributaries of the Udinghe, Pihe, Weihe carry with them a huge amount of yellow earth masses. Hence the name Huang He, which means "Yellow River". The Huang He is a relatively young river. At an early stage of the Quaternary period, within the basin of the present river, there were only lacustrine shells that were isolated from each other and formed relatively independent inland water systems. With the development of the new movement of the geological structure, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was continuously rising. Folds and breaks appeared on its edges, on the basis of which a multi-stage relief in the form of a terrace later formed. Pre-existing scattered lakes have merged into rivers. And only later, about 100-10 thousand years ago, at the late stage of the Pleistocene epoch, the current river gradually formed with a complete unhindered flow from its sources up to the mouth, where it flows into the sea.

The Yellow River originates on the northern slopes of the Bayan-Khara-Ula ridge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The height of the source above sea level is 4,830 meters. The upper course is considered to be the section from the source to the Togtokh county of the Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia. The length of the section is 3,472 km. There are deep gorges in this area, areas with a high fall height are concentrated here, the water is clear and swift. Large reserves of hydro resources have been confirmed. The middle course is considered to be the section from Togtokh to Mengjin County, Henan Province. Here is an area of ​​sandy soils, water carries with it a huge amount of coarse sand. The length of the middle current is 1.122 km. The section from Mengjin County to the mouth is considered to be the downstream. This is the main alluvial area where the main masses of silt and sand accumulate. The length of the lower reaches is 870 km.

The Yellow River flows through the following provinces and districts: Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Henan and Shandong. It empties into the Bohai Bay near Dongying, Shandong Province. The total length is 5,464 km. The fall height is 4,480 meters. The Yellow River Basin is located in the area with coordinates 32°-42° north latitude and 96°-119° east longitude. The pool area is 795 thousand square meters. km.

The Yellow River flows through a loess plateau. The loess plateau with loose soil and depleted flora has become many deep gorges and steep cliffs along and across this hilly region and is a unique geological species that is almost never found in other parts of the world. Erosion and some artificial factors have led to severe degradation of water and soil in the area.

Every year, the Yellow River throws a huge amount of sand into the lower reaches. The average density of sand masses in water is 37 kg/m3, and during heavy rains it is more than 1,000 kg/m3. That is why it is called the sandiest river in the world. Regular measurements and estimates show that the Yellow River annually transfers 1.6 billion tons of sand from the middle to the lower reaches, as a result of which, geographically, the continent is continuously growing eastward at a rate of 50 square kilometers. km. in year.

The mountains and rivers in the Yellow River basin are of extraordinary beauty. The population of the basin is a quarter of the total population of China. Fertile soil, abundant water resources, deposits of coal, oil, natural gas, ores, and abundant tourism resources make the basin an important site with great potential for future development.

The Liaohe is a major river in Northeast China.

Liaohe is the largest river in the south of Dongbei - the Chinese Northeast. The first mention of this river is found in the book "Shanhaijing", written in the era of the Warring States (475-221 BC). AT different time the river had different names: Liaoshui, Dalyaoshui, Qyulyuhe and others.

Liaohe has two sources: eastern and western. The eastern section of Liaohe (Dongliaohe) originates on the western slopes of the Changbaishan Range near Liaoyuan City, Jilin Province. Western Liaohe (Silyaohe) is divided into two sources: southern and northern, Laohahe, originating on the slopes of Guangtoushan Mt. Qilaotu of Pingchuan County, Hebei Province and Shara Muren, starting in Heshigten Aimag, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Eastern and Western Liaohe, after confluence in Guyushu of Changtu County in the north of Liaoning Province, receive the common name Liaohe. In Liaoning, the river passes Tieling and turns southwest, eventually flowing into the Liaodong Bay. The total length is 1,390 km. The Liaohe Basin is located in a temperate zone with abundant seasonal winds. The average annual precipitation is 350-1,000 mm. The average annual flow is 8.9 billion cubic meters. The basin covers about 500 large and small rivers. Among them are 70 rivers with basins of 1,000 sq. km. and more. The main tributaries of the Liaohe are the Hunhe, Taizihe, Qinghe, Zhaoyanhe, Liuhe, Dongliaohe, Zaolaihe, Laohahe, Shara Muren and Xingkai. The source of water replenishment is summer heavy rains.

The total area of ​​the Liaohe basin is 219 thousand square meters. km. It covers Liaoning Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jilin and Hebei Provinces. In the semi-desert steppe of the upper reaches of the Liaohe, the inhabitants are mainly engaged in animal husbandry. On the downstream plains, the population grows crops such as soybeans, wheat, kaoliang, corn, and rice. Rich deposits of minerals, such as coal, oil, iron, magnesium ores, diamond, etc., have been explored in the basin. This is one of the most important industrial bases of our country for the production of petroleum, chemical, metallurgical products and for the production of electricity, mechanical products and building materials.

Heilongjiang - a great international river flowing through the territory of three states

Heilongjiang (Amur) is located in the northeast of our country. In length, it is second only to the Yangtze and the Yellow River and is the third largest river in China. Heilongjiang has two sources - southern and northern. The northern tributary is Shilka (in the upper reaches - Onon), originating from the eastern foot of Mount Khentei in the northern part of Mongolia. The total length is 1,660 km. The pool area is approximately 200 thousand square meters. km. The southern source of Heilongjiang is called Argun (in the upper reaches - Hailar), it originates on the western slopes of the Greater Khingan, flows through Lake Hulun-Nur and turns first to the north, then to the northeast. Further Argun begins to pass along the Sino-Russian border.

The total length is 1,520 km. The pool area is 170 thousand square meters. km. The total length of the Heilongjiang River from its source to its mouth, where it flows into the sea, is 2,850 km. Its upper course from the village of Logu to the mouth of the Zeya is 905 km. Here the river passes between the mountains and flows through narrow caves and gorges. The water is deep and fast. Its middle course is considered to be the section from the mouth of the Zeya to the mouth of the Ussuri. Its length is 994 km. Here the river flows either through the mountainous regions or through the plains. The lower course is the section from the mouth of the Ussuri to the mouth, its length is 930 km. This section of the river flows through the territory of Russia.

The water system of the Heilongjiang River mainly consists of various large and small tributaries. There are only 209 of them. Among them, Shilka, Zeya, Songhuajiang (Sungari) and Ussuri are famous.

The area of ​​the Heilongjiang basin is 1,840 thousand square meters. km, of which 940 thousand sq. km. belong to China. The basin consists of the Ussuri, Songhuajiang, Nenjiang, and other basins. The Heilongjiang basin is located in a temperate and cold zone. The river receives water replenishment mainly from rains and secondarily from snowmelt. Replenishments from rains make up 75-89% of the annual runoff, snow - only 15-20%. Replenishment from underground sources - only 5-8%.

A large part of the basin is occupied woodlands. The basin provides the country with one-third of its logging and timber resources. The plain along the river is characterized by fertile soil, which provides developed agriculture on a large scale. Every year a good harvest of wheat and soybeans is harvested here. The basin also features a complex geological structure. The richest deposits of gold, iron, copper, nickel, cobalt, plutonium, coal, oil and natural gas have already been explored. Rich water resources have also been explored. The expected generation of electricity is over 30 million kW. The pool is home to many valuable species animals. Among them, 9 species are included in the international Red Book. These are the red wolf, the northeastern tiger, the Far Eastern stork, etc. The water management of the basin has great importance in the economy of northeastern China.

Huaihe - great river in the central plain of China

Huaihe is one of the main waterways in eastern China. It is located in the middle of two major rivers in China - the Yangtze and the Yellow River. The river is born in the Tongbaishan Mountains in the south of Henan Province. The upper course is considered to be the section from the source to the confluence of the Honghe on the border between the provinces of Henan and Anhui. The length of the section is 360 km. The fall height is 178 meters, which is 90% of the total fall height of Huaihe. The pool area is 30 thousand square meters. km. The Huaihe River flows through hilly areas. The section from the mouth of Honghe to Hongzehu on the border between Anhui and Jiangsu provinces is considered the middle course of the river. Its length is 490 km.

The pool area is 128 thousand square meters. km. The northern coast of the middle course of the Huaihe is part of the Huanghe-Huaihe Plain. The southern coast is occupied by the Jianghuai Hills, the Huoshan Mountains, which serve as a watershed between the Yangtze and the Huaihe valley. In Fengtai, Huaiyuan and Wuhe of Anhui Province, the river forms the so-called. "three small gorges of Huaihe". The section below Hongzehe is considered to be the lower reaches of the river. Its length is 150 km. In the lower reaches, small rivers cross each other, and lakes are located all the time.

The Huaihe Basin is located in the central plain, the Zhongyuan Great Plain of China. It covers the provinces of Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shandong and Hubei. In the west, the basin adjoins the mountains of Tongbaishan and Funyushan. In the east, the basin is bounded by the Yellow Sea, in the south by Dabeshan, Huoshan and Zhangbaling mountains, by the Lianshan and Yimeshan mountains. The total area of ​​the pool is 270 thousand square meters. km.

The Huaihe water system includes several hundred rivers and their tributaries. Between the northern and southern shores of the Huaihe, there are known differences in relief and in natural geographical conditions. These differences predetermined the features of the two water systems. The tributaries on the northern coast are numerous and shallow. On the south coast there are short and deep tributaries. On the northern coast, Honghe, Yinghe, Wohe, Hoihe, Tohe, etc. are most famous. On the south coast are Pihe and Shihe.

The Huaihe Valley is located on a strip passing from the south to northern climate. It has a temperate climate with a semi-humid atmosphere. Geographically, Huaihe and Qinglin form a natural line of demarcation between the South and North of China. The climate is moderate. The frost-free period is more than 200 days a year. Precipitation is average, moderate - 800 mm per year.

The Huaihe Basin is also one of the most important agricultural production bases in our country. The main type of explored underground wealth is coal. There are many large coal mines in the valley, such as Huainan, Huaibei, Pingdingshan, Chaozhuang and Xuzhou.

Haihe - a water system resembling an ancient Chinese fan

The main waterway of Haihe is considered to be the section from the junction of the Ziyahe and Nanyunhe rivers near the Jingang Bridge in the northeastern part of Tianjin to the Haihe locks near Dagukou. Length - 72 km. This is an ancient riverbed that crosses Tianjin and serves as the natural axis of this city. On both sides of it are various monuments and sights of Tianjin. The Haihe basin is located in the area with coordinates 112°-120° east longitude and 35°-43° north latitude. The basin covers 5 provinces, 2 cities and one autonomous region, and more than 260 counties. The basin begins with a loess plateau in the western part of the Taihang Mountain region in the east and ends in the east with the Bohai Bay. In the south, it borders on the northern dam of the Yellow River. The basin covers two cities of central subordination - Beijing and Tianjin, most of Heibei province, the eastern and northern parts of Shanxi province, as well as the northern part of Shandong and Henan provinces. In addition, it also includes a small part of Liaoning and Inner Mongolia. The total area of ​​the pool is 317.8 thousand square meters. km.

The Haihe water system is one of the most important water systems in the North China Plain. Haihe has many tributaries - Beiyunhe (including Chaobai and Zhaoyun), Yongding, Daqing, Ziya and Nanyunhe. In addition, there are more than 300 rivers, each of which is 10 km long. and more. The fan-shaped Haihe includes many water systems of its tributaries. The main ones are three systems: southern, western and northern. The southern system includes the Zhanghe and Weihe, Nanyunhe and Ziyahe, which flow into the Haihe; the western includes Daqinghe; the northern one is called Beisikhe in a different way: these are Yongding, Beiyun, Chaobai and Zhaoyun.

Due to many factors that determine the geological structure and natural conditions In the north China region, the relief of the basin is characterized by an obvious elevation in the western, northern and southern parts and a lowland on the eastern side. All rivers flow to the east. This is the main reason for the formation of the fan-shaped water system of Haihe. In addition, important factors are also changes in the course of the Yellow River, which took place in history, as well as active anthropogenic impact.

The Haihe Valley is also characterized by uneven rainfall in different areas. The average annual precipitation is 400-800 mm. In flood years, precipitation reaches 1,300-1,400 mm. Due to significant evaporation, the absence of new replenishment from underground sources, as well as artificial dredging, the average annual drainage of the basin is small. In addition, the volume of the drain changes rapidly not only from year to year, it looks different even within one year. It is for these reasons that the history of these places knows many cases of serious natural Disasters. Per last years Beijing has been flooded three times, and Tianjin eight times. After the formation of the People's Republic of China, multiple channel cleanups were carried out in the water system of the basin, and the danger of natural disasters was largely eliminated.

The basin is famous for its reserves of coal, oil, natural gas and ores. Along the Bohai Bay there are extensive salt basins covering tens of thousands of hectares. And the port of Tianjin at the mouth of the Haihe is the largest port in northern China. Today, the Haihe Valley has already become one of the political, economic and cultural centers China, as well as one of the most important grain-producing and cotton-producing bases in the northern part of China.

Lancangjiang - international waterway

Lancangjiang (Mekong) is born on the northern slopes of the Tanggla Range of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The height of the source above sea level is 5.167 meters. The source of the river is in the Yushu Tibet Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province. The river flows from north to south, crossing Qinghai, Tibet, Yunnan, it also passes through the territories of neighboring countries - Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It flows into the sea near the Vietnamese city of Hu Kyi Min.

The river is the only international river in Southeast Asia that flows through the territory of six states. The Lancang River (Mekong) is known throughout the world. In terms of length, it ranks sixth among the great rivers of the world, and in terms of basin area, it ranks 14th.

Lancangjiang has two sources: eastern (Dza-Chu) and western (Ngom-Chu). The upper course is the section from the source to the Tibetan city of Chamdo. Its length is 564 km. The upper course receives water replenishment from melted snow, rains and underground sources. The drop height is 1,850 meters.

After the confluence of tributaries at Chamdo, the river is named Lancangjiang. From here the river flows in a wide channel, calmly and evenly. The middle course is considered to be the section from Chamdo to the Gongguo Bridge in Yunnan Province. Its length is 813.7 km. Here the river passes through the highlands of the Hengduan Range, where there are many steep gorges. In this section, the river receives water replenishment from rains and underground water. The drop height is 1,980 meters. The section below the Gungo Bridge is considered to be the downstream. Its length is 724.3 km. Here, low mountains are accompanied by wide gorges and depressions. Water replenishments are predominantly from rains. The height of the fall is 765 meters. Before flowing into the river, the Namloi tributary, the river leaves China, and then it is called the Mekong.

The total length of the Chinese section of the river is 2,129 km, of which 448 km. fall on Qinghai Province, 465 km. - to Tibet, and 1,216 km. - to Yunnan. The Lancangjiang basin is inhabited by a large number of national minorities in China. These are the Dai, Yi, Bai, Naxi, Hui, Tibetans, Lahuts, etc. peoples. The basin is famous for its beautiful scenery and rich deposits of minerals such as antimony, lead, copper and iron. Here is the area with the richest fauna and flora of China. The height of the fall in the middle and lower reaches is 2,745 meters, which indicates a huge potential for hydropower resources. The picturesque landscape, unique national flavor and culture of China's national minorities annually attract the interest of an increasing number of tourists from all over the country and the world.

Lakes in China

China is a country with a huge number of lakes. According to the estimates of competent organizations, there are more than 2,800 natural (or non-artificial) lakes in China. Each of them has a water surface of 1 sq. km. or even more. The total area of ​​lakes is more than 80 thousand square meters. km. In addition, there are 13 lakes with a surface area of ​​1,000 sq. km. These lakes cover a total of approximately 29,000 sq. km.

Lakes in China are located respectively in 9 different natural and geographical bands and regions with unequal climatic conditions: some are in the mountains and on the plains, others are on continental areas or islands, others are in deserts or swamps, in arid zones or in humid and semi-humid areas. This explains the diversity of lakes in China. According to the reasons for their formation, lakes are divided into the following categories: tectonic, volcanic, glacial, dammed, karst, wind erosion lakes, river and lagoons. According to the hydrochemical composition of the lake waters are divided into salt, salt-water and freshwater.

The overwhelming majority of Chinese lakes receive direct water replenishment from the respective rivers, so the lakes are an integral part of the respective water systems. The geographical location of these lakes to a large extent depends on the area where the lakes receive water replenishment, which is why one of the most important factors is, among others, the water regime. Due to certain factors, such as natural and geographical conditions, climatic conditions, external and internal (inland) rivers in our country are not similar to each other and have completely different features.

Based on the characteristics of Chinese rivers, it would be possible to draw a line through China that would start from the southern section of the Greater Khingan, then cross the Yinshan mountain range and the eastern section of the Qilian mountain range and end at the Gandishishan mountain range. To the southeast of this line are the lake districts, which receive water from the outer rivers. Due to the fact that lake water flows out of the lake, salt does not accumulate here and therefore there are mainly freshwater lakes that are concentrated on both sides of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The main ones are Poyanghu, Dongtinghu, Taihu, Hongzehu, Hulunhu, etc.

These lakes have huge natural resources. To the northwest of this line are lake areas that receive water replenishment from inland rivers. Since these lakes are far from the sea coast, water does not flow out of the lakes, a huge amount of salt accumulates here due to strong evaporation. Water contains a huge amount of salt. The water contains ordinary salt, mirabilite, gypsum, boric ores and other industrial raw materials. The most characteristic of this area is Qinghai Lake (Kukunor) - the largest salt lake in China. Lakes in China are mainly located in five large lake regions. This is a lake region in the plains and mountains of Northeast China; a lake district on the plains of East China; the lake region on the Mongolian-Xinjiang plateau; a lake district on the Qinghai-Tibe Plateau; and a lake district on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.

Lake district in the plains and mountains of Northeast China. The total area is 3,952 sq. km, which is 5.4% of the total lake areas of the country. The area is located in the temperate zone, where semi-humid seasonal winds prevail. Lakes receive abundant water replenishment and are usually divided into two categories: a) Lakes that were formed directly as a result of the volcanic movement of the Quaternary era. Characteristic of this are five interconnected lakes in Dedu County, Heilongjiang Province, Jingpohu Lake on the Mudanjiang River, and Tianchi Lake in the Changbaishan Mountains on the Sino-Korean border. These lakes are distinguished by their large water surface and great depth; b) Numerous large and small lakes in bogs and swamps. They are generally shallow and have a relatively high salt content.

Lake district in the plains of East China. Here we mean large and small lakes located on both sides of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze and Huaihe, the lower reaches of the Yellow River, Haihe, as well as on both sides of the large Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. Total area - 1,847 sq. km, which is 2.94% of the lake areas of the country. This area is characterized by a high density in the location of lakes. Here are the five most famous freshwater lakes in China - Poyang, Dongting, Taihu, Hongzehu and Chaohu.

Mongolian-Xinjiang plateau region of lakes. Total area - 9.106 sq. km, which is 12.2% of the total lake areas of the country. The Mongolian-Xinjiang lake region is located in the inland part of China. It is far from the sea. The climate is dry with little rainfall. Due to significant evaporation, water is lost faster than it enters, which led to a constant thickening and increase in salt content.

Qinghai-Tibet plateau region of lakes. Total area - 37.487 sq. km, or 50.5% of the country's total lake areas. This is a group of the largest and most numerous inland lakes located on the highest mountainous terrain of the Earth. This is at the same time the area with the most densely located lakes in our country. The lakes here are mostly saline or semi-salty. The water is usually deep. In winter, the lakes freeze for quite a long time.

Yunnan Guizhou Plateau Lake District. The total area is 1,077 sq. km. The area occupies approximately 1.4% of the total lake areas of the country. The lakes here are located mainly in the central and western part of Yunnan province. Medium and small freshwater lakes predominate here.

Geographical position

China is located in East Asia, in the east it is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. By area - 9.6 million square meters. km. China, second only to Russia and Canada, ranks third in the world. In the meridional direction, the territory of China extends for 5.5 thousand km. - from the Heilongjiang (Amur) River near the northern city of Mohe to the coral reefs of Zengmuansha south of the Nanshatsyundao archipelago. In the latitudinal direction - by 5.2 thousand km. from the confluence of the Heilongjiang and Ussuri rivers to the western spurs of the Pamirs.

The length of the land border of the country is 22.8 thousand km. In the east, China borders on the DPRK, in the north - on Mongolia, in the northeast - on Russia. China's northwestern neighbors are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, while Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bhutan are located on the country's western and southwestern borders. In the south, China neighbors Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.

The Republic of Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia are located to the east and southeast of the coast of China and are separated from it by the seas. The length of the coastline of mainland China is more than 18,000 km. The coast of China is flat with a large number of convenient non-freezing harbors. China in the east and south is washed by the waters of the marginal seas of the Pacific Ocean (Yellow, East China and South China Seas), as well as the Bohai Sea, which is China's inland sea. The total area of ​​territorial waters is 4.73 million square meters. km.

The territory of China includes 5.4 thousand islands. The largest of them is Taiwan (36,000 sq. km), the second largest is Hainan (34,000 sq. km). The Diaoyu and Chiweiyu Islands, located northeast of Taiwan, are China's easternmost territories. Groups of islands, reefs and shoals in the South China Sea - Dongshatsundao, Xishatsyundao, Zhongshatsyundao, Nanshatsyundao and Nanwei - constitute the southern border of China.

Relief

The relief of China was formed under the influence of tectonic processes that began several million years ago, caused by the collision of the Hindustan and Eurasian plates. The territory of China resembles a four-step "ladder" descending from west to east, its upper part - the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau rises continuously, its average height exceeds 4,000 m above sea level, it is often called the "roof of the world."

On the western border of the highlands are the Great Himalayas with the main peak Chomolungma (8844.43 m above sea level) - the highest peak in the world. The second step is made up of the highlands of Inner Mongolia, the Loess plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou highlands with the Tarim depression located here, as well as the Dzhungar and Sichuan basins. The average height of the region is 2,000-1,000 m above sea level.

From the eastern edge of the second step - the eastern spurs of the Greater Khingan (Daxing'anling), the mountains of Taihangshan, Wushan and Xuefengshan - the third step of the stairs extends to the east, its height decreases to 1,000-500 m above sea level. Here, from north to south, the Northeast, North China Plains and the plain of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze are located, framed by small mountains and hills. The fourth step is vast areas of the continental shelf up to 200 m deep.

Climate

Most of China is in northern zone temperate climate, characterized primarily by a pronounced change of seasons and monsoon rains. From September to April, severe winter winds from Siberia and Mongolia determine a dry and cold climate and a large temperature difference between north and south.

From April to September, warm and humid summer monsoons come from the east and south seas, at this time it is hot and rainy, the temperature difference between north and south is negligible. The territory of China includes 6 climatic zones: equatorial, tropical, subtropical, warm-temperate, temperate and cold-temperate. The amount of precipitation gradually decreases from the southeast to the northwest, and there is a large difference in the average annual rainfall in all regions of the country, in the southeast - 1,500 mm, in the northwest - only 200 mm.

Rivers and lakes

China has a large number of rivers. The basins of more than one and a half thousand rivers exceed 1,000 sq. km. km. The sources of the main rivers are in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, from where their waters rush to the plains. Large elevation differences create favorable conditions for the use of hydropower resources, the reserves of which amount to 680 million kilowatts and rank first in the world.

The rivers of China form systems with external and internal flows. The total catchment area of ​​landlocked rivers covers 64% of the country's territory. These include the Yangtze, Huanghe, Heilongjiang, Zhujiang, Liaohe, Haihe, Huaihe, and others, flowing from west to east and flowing into the Pacific Ocean; the Yalutsangpo River originates in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and flows into the Indian Ocean, in its channel is the world's largest canyon with a length of 504.6 km. and with a unique depth of 6,009 m. The Ertsis (Irtysh) River flows through Xinjiang to the north and flows into the Arctic Ocean. Rivers with internal flow flow into lakes or get lost in deserts. Their catchment area covers 36% of the country's territory. The longest of them is Tarim in Xinjiang - 2,179 km.

The largest river in China, the Yangtze, is second only to the Nile and the Amazon in length (6,300 km). The upper course of the Yangtze runs through high mountains and deep valleys. It harbors rich water resources. The Yangtze is the country's main and most convenient shipping route, running from west to east. It is adapted by nature for navigation, not without reason in China the Yangtze is called the "golden transport artery". The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze are characterized by a warm and humid climate, abundant rainfall and fertile soil, which creates ideal conditions for the development of agriculture. It is here that the main granary of the country is located.

The second largest river in China is the Yellow River (5,464 km). The Huang He basin is rich in fertile fields, rich pastures, and the subsoil conceals huge deposits of minerals. The banks of the Yellow River are the cradle of the Chinese nation, from here the origins of ancient Chinese culture can be traced. Heilongjiang (Amur) is the largest river in northern China. The total length is 4,350 km, of which 3,101 km. on the territory of China. The Pearl River is 2,214 km long. - the most full-flowing in South China. In addition to natural water arteries, China has a well-known man-made Grand Canal that connects the systems of the Haihe, Huanghe, Huaihe, Yangtze and Qiantangjiang rivers. It was laid in the 5th century BC, stretches from north to south from Beijing to the city of Hangzhou (Prov. Zhejiang) for 1,801 km, this is the oldest and longest artificial canal in the world.

There are many lakes in China. Most of them are located on the plains of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Plain lakes are usually freshwater, the largest of them are Poyanghu, Dongtinghu, Taihu and Hongzehu. China's largest freshwater lake Poyang - in the north of Jiangxi province, the mirror of the lake is 3,583 square meters. km. The lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are mostly salty, these are Qinghaihu (Kukunor), Namuhu (Namtso), Qilinhu (Selling), etc. The largest salt lake in the country is Qinghaihu (northeast of the Qinghai Province), its area is 4,583 sq. km.

Land resources and minerals

China is extremely rich in land resources and minerals. There are huge areas of various types of soil, arable land, forests and steppes, deserts, etc. Arable land is concentrated in the east of China, steppes are located mainly in the west and north, forests in remote northeastern and southwestern regions.

At present, the area of ​​cultivated land in China is 130.04 million hectares. The main agricultural regions are the Northeast and North China Plains, the plain of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze, the Pearl River Delta, and the Sichuan Basin. The North-Eastern Plain with an area of ​​350 thousand square meters. km. is the largest in the country; wheat, corn, soybeans, kaoliang, sugar beet and bast crops are cultivated on its fertile black soil.

The North China Plain is formed by thick sediments, where burozems predominate. Rich crops of wheat, corn, millet, cotton and other crops are harvested here. The plain of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze is low and flat, there are many lakes in an intricate interweaving of rivers and streams. it perfect place for growing many crops, including tea; freshwater species of fish are bred in reservoirs. This area is rightly called "the land of rice and fish." Violet soils predominate in the Sichuan depression. In a warm and humid climate, good harvests of flooded rice, rapeseed and sugar cane are gathered here all year round. The Pearl River Delta has two to three bountiful rice crops a year.

The area of ​​forests in China is 174.91 million hectares. The largest forest areas are located in the Greater and Lesser Khingan regions, in the Changbaishan mountains in the northeast, where the main tree species are cedar, larch, birch, oak, Manchurian ash, elm and poplar. Southwest China occupies the second place in terms of forest reserves. He is rich valuable breeds woods, including spruce, fir, Yunnan pine, pompelmus, sandalwood, camphor and mahogany, as well as nanmu wood. Xishuangbanna is a unique place in the south of Yunnan. Local impassable tropical jungle, in which more than 5 thousand species of flora grow, are rightly called the "kingdom of plants".

The area of ​​natural pastures in China is about 400 million hectares. In the steppe zone extending over 3,000 km. from the northeast to the southwest of the country, a large number of cattle-breeding and livestock-breeding bases have been created. The leader in the expanses of natural pastures is Inner Mongolia, famous for its elite livestock breeds. Business card local animal husbandry - the Sanhe bull and horse, as well as the Mongolian sheep. Xinjiang is an important breeding base for the famous Ili horse and Xinjiang fine fleece sheep.

China occupies one of the first places in the world in terms of the total area of ​​arable land, pastures and forests, however, due to the huge population, these figures in terms of per capita are reduced to a minimum. This, first of all, refers to the arable area - this figure is only a third of the world average per capita.

China is rich in minerals. Here, as they say, "practically the entire periodic table is presented." Geologists have confirmed the presence of commercial reserves of 158 minerals. In terms of their total reserves, China ranks third in the world. China is among the world leaders in reserves of a number of major minerals - coal, iron, copper, aluminum, antimony, molybdenum, manganese, tin, lead, zinc and mercury. China's hard coal reserves are estimated at 332.6 billion tons. The richest coal deposits are located in Xinjiang, Shanxi Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Stocks iron ore make up 21.6 billion tons, the most significant deposits are located in the north, northeast and southwest of the country. China is rich in oil, natural gas, oil shale, phosphorus and sulfur. The main oil fields have been explored in the northwestern, northeastern and northern regions, as well as on the continental shelf off the eastern coast. In terms of reserves of rare earth metals, China surpasses all countries of the world combined.

Flora and fauna

In terms of the diversity of species of wild animals, China occupies one of the first places in the world. More than 6,266 species of vertebrates live here, including 2,404 species of terrestrial vertebrates and 3,862 species of fish, which is about 10% of the species of vertebrates living on Earth. Giant panda, golden monkey, South China tiger, brown chicken, Manchurian crane, red-footed ibis, white dolphin, Chinese alligator and others the rarest representatives fauna are Chinese endemic. A giant panda with fluffy black and white hair is a large mammal, it feeds on young bamboo shoots, its weight reaches 135 kg. Currently, only a little over 1,700 giant pandas have survived on the planet, they have become an international symbol of wildlife conservation. The Manchurian crane is a symbol of longevity in East Asia. Its height reaches 1.2 m, white and black colors of plumage are originally combined, on the head there is bare skin of bright red color. The white dolphin is one of two freshwater cetacean species. It was first discovered in the Yangtze in 1980 and attracted great interest from ichthyologists from different countries.

China has an exceptionally rich flora, with 32,000 species of higher plants alone. Among them are almost all plants characteristic of the cold, temperate and tropical zones of the Northern Hemisphere, more than 7 thousand species of tree-like plants, including 2.8 thousand species of trees. To unique species, characteristic exclusively for China, are glyptostroboid metasequoia, Chinese glyptostrobus, Chinese argyrophylla, cunningamia, false larch, Taiwanese flusiana, Fujian cypress, davidia, eucommia, "xishu". Metasequoia glyptostrobovidny as a relict plant is listed as the rarest plant in the world. False larch grows in the mountainous regions of the Yangtze basin, on its short branches there are bunches of leaves that resemble coppers, they are green in summer and yellow in autumn. The false larch, along with other 4 rare species of trees, is widely used in landscape gardening. There are more than 2 thousand species in China edible plants and over 3 thousand types of medicinal products. The most valuable of them are Changbaishan ginseng, Tibetan safflower, Ningxia lycium and pinnatifid ginura growing in Yunnan and Guizhou. The Chinese flora is rich in flowers and ornamental plants, the most beautiful is considered to be the peony, which originally grows here and is called by the Chinese the “king of flowers”. The tree peony has especially large, bright and lush flowers; it is recognized as one of the national symbols of China.

South China Karst

China is one of the countries with the largest carbonate rocks in the world, it is in the south of China that the most typical and diverse karst formations have formed. South China Karst, centered on Guizhou Province, covering an area of ​​about 600,000 sq. km., is considered the largest single karst formation in the world, it includes eastern part Yunnan province, most of Guizhou, partly includes Chongqing, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei and Guangdong. With a high mountain plateau (average altitude 2,000-2,200 m) in the northwest and a lowland plain (average altitude 100-120 m) in the southeast, its topography shows a giant slope descending from the northwest to the southeast.

The Chinese government has nominated the South China Karst as a world natural heritage site. South China Karst includes three areas - Chongqing Wulong Karst (gorge), Guizhou Libo Karst (conical formations) and Yunnan Province Stone Forest Karst (sharp rocks). Their total area is 476 sq. km., the area of ​​buffer zones is 984 sq. km.

From various perspectives, these karst zones reflect the unique natural features of the South China topography, highlighting its distinctive and representative karst topography, karst ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as its unique natural beauty.

From a geological point of view, the South China Karst region is located on the southwestern edge of the Yangtze massif. During most of the Paleozoic and early Mesozoic periods (Cambrian to Triassic), this region was covered by an ocean. Thousands of meters of dense carbonate deposits formed, especially during the late Paleozoic era. Due to the movement of the earth, starting from the late Triassic period, this area began to rise, came out of the water and began to develop karst forms.

Due to the formation of the Himalayas since the late Tertiary period, there has been a rapid rise in this region, which is reflected in the current sloping topography. As a result of a long and complex geological evolution, karst formations unique in their diversity have formed in this region, including the most typical karst formations in the world - tower karst (Fenglin), sharp rock karst (Stone Forest) and conical karst (Fengcong), as well as unusual karst phenomena such as Tiankeng (giant karst well) and Difeng (deep karst fissure). In addition, there are numerous underground cave systems and rich cave deposits. All this makes this area the world's "museum of the continental tropical-subtropical karst" due to its incomparable richness and uniqueness.

On the territory of the South China Karst, dense carbonate layers deposited in the period from the Cambrian to the Triassic contain the most important fossils for world science, which are the most important evidence of life on Earth.

The nominated area is characterized by high biological diversity, it contains a large number of rare, endangered and species of plants and animals characteristic of this particular area. The karst regions of Chongqing and Guizhou are home to over 6,000 species of higher plants, including D.involucrate, C.argyrophyll, Cycasguizhouensis, Taxuschinensis, and other rare species. This karst formation is inhabited not only by many animals - birds, amphibians, fish and cave animals - but also by many endangered and characteristic species of animals, such as Presbytisfrancoisi, Neofelisnebulosa, Aqilachrysaetos, Moschusberezovskit and others. for many endangered animal and plant species.

The rich and unique karst formations of the nominated area have a unique natural beauty. Many of the areas have been traditional landmarks for hundreds of years. Tianken in Chongqing, Stone Forest in Yunnan and waterfalls in Guizhou - natural wonders known all over the world.

Karst Chongqing Oolong

Oolong Karst is located in the lower reaches of the Wujiang River southeast of Chongqing. It consists of three karst systems - Sanqiao Natural Bridges, Furong Jiang Karst, and Houping Tianken Karst, which are located in the north, southeast, and northeast of Wulong County respectively. It consists of gorges, natural bridges, tianken, caves, underground currents, sometimes coming to the surface, developed in carbonate rocks.

The platform of this area is characterized by two mountain plains with a rise of 1,800-2,000 m and 1,200-1,500 m deep gorges. Three karst systems are located on the banks, in the interfluve and upper reaches of the tributaries of the Wujiang River, respectively. They form a connected community that develops in harmony with each other.

January 2006 - Oolong Karst applied for the title of World Natural Heritage as part of the South China Karst.

Guizhou Libo Karst

Libo Karst, nominated for the title of World Natural Heritage under the South China Karst Statement, is located in Libo County, South Guizhou Bui and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. Its average height above sea level is 747 m with a range of 385 to 1,109 m.

It is a typical example of conical karst in the transition zone between the Guizhou Plateau and the Guangxi Lowlands. Its outstanding qualities are provided by the full range of gradual transition from plateau karst to lowland karst. The conical karst contains the richest variety of biological species, this special karst forest ecosystem is home to many species of endangered fauna.

90% of the population of the nominated area are national minorities with a rich culture. The exotic culture of the local peoples Shui, Yao, Bui and others is unique and vibrant. The boundaries of the nominated site are established based on the geomorphological development and distribution of karst, karst forest ecosystems and habitats of rare and endangered species.

Libo Karst consists of a core zone of 29.518 ha and a buffer zone of 43.498 ha. Main zone National Reserve Maolan covers 21,684 ha, occupying 73.46% of the Libo cone zone.

Criteria that meet the requirements of the World Natural Heritage:

An outstanding example representing milestones in the Earth's evolutionary history, including evidence of life, significant ongoing geological processes in landform development, or significant geomorphic or physiographic properties; Is an outstanding example representing significant current ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, coastal, freshwater and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals; Contains the most important and significant natural habitat conditions for the conservation of biological diversity in the area, including endangered species of outstanding scientific or conservation value.

Karst "Stone Forest" in Yunnan Province

Stone Forest National Park is located in Shilin Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province, 80 km. southeast of Kunming city. It covers an area of ​​350 sq. km. and includes Main Stone Forest, Naigu Stone Forest, Changhu Lake, Great Waterfall, etc.

For 300 million years, as a result of the movement of the earth's crust, this area has turned from the sea to the land, from the lower reaches to the plateau. Primary carbonate rock, formed in the ocean, miraculously turned into a "stone forest". In the process of evolution, the Stone Forest was covered with volcanic lava and lake water. Therefore, the formation of the Stone Forest can truly be called a legendary geological phenomenon on a global scale.

The stone forest has the richest morphological properties. Due to the unique geological evolution, numerous accumulations of stone forest formations formed in various geological periods, coexist in the most diverse topography, each with unique features. There are pointed rocks, columnar and mushroom-shaped groups, groups in the form of pagodas. Since almost all typical spiky karst formations can be defined as a stone forest, the park is known worldwide as the "Stone Forest Museum".

Walking through the stone forest, visitors admire the masterpieces created by nature, bizarre forms fascinate them. A delightful, unusual and broken landscape creates countless interweaving of labyrinths.

These include the Main Stone Forest, Small Stone Forest, and Naigu Stone Forest, which are made up of various rock formations. Here you can find animals, plants and even human figures. Some resemble elephants, some are scraps or rags, but it is certain that they are all quite unique.

The underground stone forest in Zhiyun Cave is an underground stone forest distributed over several caves, covering a total area of ​​about 3 square meters. km. "Mysterious Wind Cave" consists of Pengfeng Cave, Hongxi Spring and Underground River. From August to November, a whirlwind lasting 2-3 minutes breaks out of the cave every 30 minutes. The elongated Changhu Lake is a karst lake 3 km long. and only 300 meters wide. The lake has underwater stalactites and stalagmites and a small island in the center. The source of the waterfall "Dade" - the Ba River is a tributary of the Nanpan River. In the rainy season up to 150 cubic meters. m. of water per sq. inch fall from a height of 88 meters.

Every year on the 24th or 25th of the sixth month of the lunar calendar, the people of Sani gather in the Stone Forest for the "Festival of Torches". Visitors are invited to admire the folk dances and wrestling competitions of the youth of Sani.

It abounds in rivers - more than 50,000 rivers. Almost all major rivers in China belong to the external river system, flowing directly or indirectly into the sea.

The terrain of China is highland in the west and low in the east, most of its rivers flow east and flow into, including the Yangtze, Liaohe and Haihe rivers.
Major rivers in China:

• Yangtze - 6300km (3915 miles)
• huanhe, Yellow River- 5464km (3395 miles)
• Heilongjiang - 4370km (2715 miles)
• Songhua - 1927km (1197 miles)
• Zhujiang - 2,200 kilometers (1,367 miles)

1. Yangtze River (Yangtze, 长江)
Yangtze River - No China tour is complete without a cruise on the Yangtze River - the journey will present a rapidly changing panorama of China. The Yangtze River is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world. It originates from the snow-capped peaks of the Geladandong mountain range - the main peak of Tangla Qinghai and the Tibetan Plateau, flows through Qinghai, Tibet, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu and flows into the sea in Shanghai. The 6,300-kilometer route of the Yangtze River has eight major tributaries and a catchment area of ​​1.8 million square kilometers, equivalent to 1/5 of China's total land area.


Cruises on the Yangtze have become a must for visitors to China. The Yangtze River winds its way through high mountains and deep valleys with numerous tributaries. The cruise includes exciting excursions historical sites. The main splendor of the Yangtze River is the famous Three Gorges and Dams.

2. Yellow River (Huang He, 黄河)
Yellow River - The Yellow River, with a total length of 5464 kilometers, is the second longest river in China. The Yellow River is the cradle of Chinese civilization. It comes from the Bayanhar mountain range of Qinghai Province. Winding riverbeds pass through 9 provinces and finally flow into the sea, which is also called the Yellow. (Bohai Bay) is a river delta in Kenli, Shandong Province.
The unique natural scenery of the forest plateaus looks extremely attractive. Tourists can fully enjoy the breathtaking natural scenery of the Yellow River.

3. Heilongjiang River (Heilongjiang, 黑龙江)
Heilongjiang River - Sino-Russian border river Heilongjiang (also called Amur), runs east through northern China and flows into. Its entire length is 4370 km. The 11th longest river in the world, the Heilongjiang River flows through forests, lush green grasslands and waterlands. The river has the shape of a black dragon, which is reflected in the river's Chinese name: Heilongjiang means "Black Dragon".

4. Sungari river (Sungari, 松花江)
Sungari River - The Sungari River in northeast China, the largest tributary of the Heilongjiang River, flows about 1927 km from Changbaishan through the provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin. In winter, beautiful frost lies on the banks of the river. A unique feature of the river is the white fabulous winter.

5. Pearl River (Pearl River, 珠江)
Pearl River Zhujiang (the length of the Pearl River) is the third longest among the rivers of China (2200 km, after the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers), and the second in volume (after the Yangtze). This is the largest river in southern China, flowing into, between Hong Kong and Macau. Its tailwater forms the Pearl River Delta. The Pearl River is formed by the confluence of three rivers - Xijiang, BeiJiang and Dongjaing. The river flows through most areas of the provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and Guizhou, and parts of Hunan and Jiangxi provinces, forming 409,480 km² - The Pearl River Basin has a network of rivers, with fertile soil.

6. Brahmaputra (Yaluzangbujiang, 雅鲁藏布江)
Brahmaputra River - Brahmaputra is a transboundary river and one of the largest rivers in Asia. With its source in Tibet, an autonomous region of China, the Brahmaputra River runs first to the east, then to the south and flows into. About 1,800 miles (2,900 km) long, the Brahmaputra boasts the Grand Canyon (the largest canyon in the world, 504.6 km long and 6,009 m deep). The river is an important source of irrigation and transportation.

7. Lancang River (Lancang Jiang, 澜沧江)
Lancang River - Lancang River is also known as the longest river in Southeast Asia, with a total length of 2354 kilometers. It originates from the springs of the Tanggula mountain range in Qinghai Province. The Lancang River runs south until it leaves China at Nanla Bayout, Yunnan Province, where it changes its name from the Lancang River to the Mekong River. The river finally flows into the Pacific Ocean in southern Vietnam. The Lancang River - the main artery of China - the carrier of water in the countries of Southeast Asia, has a reputation as the "Danube of the East". It is a fantastic river with over ten ethnic minorities living along the river.

8. Nujiang River (Nujiang, 怒江)
Nujiang River - The Nujiang River originates from the southern slope of Tanggula - a mountain range in the Tibet Autonomous Region. The Nujiang flows from north to south through the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province, with a total length of 2,816 kilometers and a catchment area of ​​324,000 square kilometers. The name of the river changes to the Salween River after passing into Burma from China. The river then flows into the Moulmein.

9. Hanjiang River
Hanjiang River - The Hangang River, also called the Han Shui River, is one of the most important tributaries of the Yangtze, with a total length of 1,532 km. It rises in southwestern Shaanxi and then moves to Hubei. The Hangang River merges with the Yangtze River in Wuhan, Hubei Province. The name of the Kingdom of Han and the Han Dynasty apparently comes from this river.