How the Yangtze River Impacted China
Since ancient times, the Yangtze River has been an integral part of Chinese civilization. Forming the boundary between the north and south of China, it has also been a distinct dividing factor in the development of the country.
The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and sixth longest river in the world, stretching over 6,300 km. It originates in the depths of the Tibetan Plateau and flows through most of China’s provinces before it pours into the East China Sea.
Over the years, the Yangtze River has been the cradle of Chinese civilization. Firstly, since the River is home to some of the most fertile soil, it was a prosperous agricultural region, on which many Chinese dynasties were built. Additonally, the River has provided a convenient mode of transport for goods, people and ideas.
The importance of the Yangtze River has been reflected in the nation’s culture. Many Chinese poets and artists have drawn creativity and ideas from the grandiosity of its effects – both in terms of its physical form as well as its importance as a mainstay of Chinese economy.
Today, the Yangtze River is still a hub of activity and economic importance, with major cities such as Shanghai or Wuhan located along its banks. There are five of the world’s largest dams built on the Yangtze, namely the Three Gorges Dam, Gezhouba Dam, Xiluodu Dam, Xiangjiaba Dam and Liangzi Dam, which produce more hydroelectric power than any other river.
Tourism has also flourished along the Yangtze River. Its breathtaking landscapes draw millions of tourists yearly, both domestic and international. Moreover, fishing is another major industry on the Yangtze River, with a commercially valuable variety of species, such as the the Chinese sturgeon, carp and yellow croaker.
The Yangtze River has been a major stimulus of China’s growth, playing an integral part in its fruitful economic and agricultural development. It is no wonder that it is regarded as the ‘mother river’ of the Chinese nation.
Interconnection of the Yangtse River
The Yangtze River basin has a long history of interdependence between different parts of the basin. Human activities, such as wetlands cultivation, irrigated rice farming and commercial navigation on the River, have all led to a high degree of interconnection. The importance of this interconnection was highlighted in the late 19th century when a great flood demonstrated the importance of regional planning and management of resources.
Recent studies examining the region have highlighted the importance of the Rift Valley Lakes System, as a complex network of interconnected lakes, rivers and wetlands that cross into Mongolia and Russia. These Lakes, such as Poyang, Dongting and Erhai, play a major role in the transfer of species, water and energy between China and neighboring countries.
In particular, the Lake Poyang is the largest freshwater lake in the Yangtze River basin, with a surface area of more than 4,000 km². This lake is seen as the most ecologically significant lake in China, as a wide variety of native species, such as the Chinese sturgeon, exist in its waters.
Due to ongoing human activity, the ecosystems of the Yangtze River have been constantly under threat. Development projects, such as urbanization and damming, have all posed issues to the delicate balance of the Yangtze River basin.
To preserve the Yangtze River, it is important to protect the water, land and ecological environment of the river and its basin. Numerous conservation measures have been taken by the Chinese government to protect existing fauna, flora and habitats in the region.
Threats to the Yangtse River
Throughout the years, the Yangtze River has been heavily impacted by pollution. In particular, most of the factories and power plants along the Yangtze River discharge wastewater directly into it, resulting in over 80% of the river being deemed unfit for human consumption.
The chief cause of water pollution is the discharge of industrial wastewater, with estimates suggesting that 75 million tons of untreated wastewater is released into the Yangtze and its tributaries yearly. With high concentrations of heavy metals and other chemicals, this has led to extensive damage to the environment and the health of those living in the area.
Not only has the contamination of the Yangtze River had a detrimental effect on marine life, but it has also caused health issues for human, with increased incidence of skin diseases, respiratory problems and impaired vision caused by contact with polluted waters.
Pollution of the river has become a major concern in recent years, and the Chinese government has taken numerous steps to combat it. These include building more wastewater treatment plants, forbidding some citys to discharge their effluent into the river, imposing stricter regulations on river traffic, limiting agricultural and industrial fertiliser use and strengthening public education.
The Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric, gravity dam that spans the Yangtze River, located in Hubei province, in south-western China. Completed in 2009, it was the world’s largest hydroelectric power station, and is a major restoration project of the Yangtze River.
The massive infrastructure project was completed over the course of two decades, with its primary purpose being to control floods, increase electrical power and improve navigation on the river, with an expected total investment of approximately USD 480 billion by 2020. Additionally, the Three Gorges Dam supplies over 40 cities with electricity, as well as farmland for nearly 8 million hectares.
The project saw the displacement of thousands of people for the construction and unfortunately, subsequent to the completion, thousands more have been relocated due to the increase of sediment deposits.Additionally, it is widely debated to what extent the Three Gorges Dam has contributed to ecological damage, in terms of its effect on species, water quality and sediment.
The Three Gorges Dam is an example of the kind of ambitious restoration projects that the Chinese government has undertaken to revitalise the Yangtze River and mitigate the effects of pollution and flooding.
Navigation on the Yangtze River has played an important role in the history of China, providing an integral part of the country’s economy. In early history, the river was used for transporting food and other goods, paving the way for early cities and commercial development.
Today, there are more than 40 ports along the Yangtze River, connecting China with cities located inland. As such, it is one of the most important waterways in terms of commercial navigation in the world. The Yangtze River basin is home to seven of China’s top 10 container ports, with Shanghai being the busiest container port in the world.
Additionally, there are also passenger routes available along the Yangtze River, providing cruises for tourists travelling upstream. The Yangtze River is known for its scenic views and many of the area’s attractions make up some of China’s most popular tourist destinations.
The Yangtze River basin is also home to a great variety of fish species, making the region a major fishing hub, with indigenous and saltwater species both being a part of the rich fauna of the Yangtze River.
Protection of the Yangtse River
As the Yangtse River plays such an integral role in the economy of China, it has become increasingly important to understand how to protect this key resource. Since the late 20th century, the Chinese government has made several attempts to protect the ecology of the region and minimise human activities that can cause harm to the river.
For example, since the early 2000s, regulations over industrial pollution were tightened and the projects of the Three Gorges Dam were implemented. Additionally, hundreds of wastewater treatment plants were built to purify and decontaminate the waters of the Yangtze River and its tributaries.
The Chinese government has recognised the immense importance of the Yangtze River and its tributaries in shaping the nation’s economy and culture. To this end, the nation’s leaders have put the river’s health and sustainability first, seeking to protect its environment while maximising its productivity.
Conservation of the Yangtse River
Conservation of the Yangtze River is an integral part of the country’s environmental protection efforts. As the river plays an essential part of sustaining China’s resources, conservation is seen as a key means of preserving the nation’s long-term economic and agricultural wellbeing.
The Chinese government has undertaken numerous conservation initiatives in the region, in order to improve and restore the rivers health. These efforts include, restoring ecosystems by planting native vegetation, prohibiting the use of fertilisers and pesticides in agricultural areas, restoring and relocating fishing villages, and enforcing stricter regulations in waterway navigation and transport.
To improve public awareness of Yangtze River conservation, the Chinese government has also held numerous public campaigns and launched initiatives to raise global awareness on the importance of preserving the environment.
Environmental and conservation organisations across China have also worked hard to spread the message of Yangtze River conservation and launch projects to protect the diversity and richness of the Yangtze River basin. Many of these organisations have worked with leading international organisations to spread the message of conservation and support local efforts.
