Originating from the Northern Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai, the Yangtze River has been part of Chinese history for centuries. Spanning 4,114 miles, it is the world’s longest river, and the source of food, culture and life for millions of people along its course. Despite a number of impressive engineering projects around the river, there is still a sense of mystery and ambiguity about its endpoint, and the debate about where it really ends remains ongoing.
Experts and scientists seem to agree that the Yangtze River flows out of China into the East China Sea, however not everyone can articulate the exact point at which the river meets the sea. According to dr. Urs Wagner and dr. Wendy Heyman of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the point in which the river meets the sea is located in Shanghai. This technical point is also known as the estuary, defined by the ETS as, “the point at which a body of fresh water merges with the sea or ocean.”
This view is also shared by Dr. Harald Mientka, Professor of Hydrogeology and Water Resources Management at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna. According to Mientka the classic definition of an estuary requires the occurrence of tidal currents, which are present near the city of Shanghai, approximately 190 kilometres from the mouth of the Yangtze. He also adds that estuaries, and to a certain extent the Yangtze River, are ecologically significant and are amongst the most productive and valuable habitats on earth.
Despite this general agreement, the view of the Yangtze River’s endpoint is still argued by some. For example, some Chinese travel guides claim the endpoint of the Yangtze is South of Shanghai city, somewhere in what is known as the Hangzhou Bay. Christopher Sidlo, a travel blogger from Australia, believes this is inaccurate, as this area is not an estuary and never exposed to storm tides.
In light of this debate, the most accurate way to define the Yangtze River’s endpoint remains its estuary. This cannot be mistaken for another location, as the estuary is a specific site at the point of change, where salty sea water and fresh river water flow merge and mingle.
Floods in the Yangtze River Delta
The heavy rains and floods that sweep through the delta region every year pose a considerable risk to the inhabitants. Although necessary for the production of food and interaction with nature, floods have been an annual occurrence in the region for hundreds of years, resulting in damage to the cities and their infrastructure.
In 1998, one of the most severe floods ever recorded destroyed the lives of thousands of people and caused an estimated $30 billion dollars worth of damage to the region. This event also highlighted the extremely fragile ecological environment of the Yangtze Delta, as the river banks, eroded by the surge of water, could no longer contain the river.
To this day, flooding remains a considerable threat to the region and its people, and although engineering projects have been devised to prevent the resulting floods, experts are convinced that more must be done to completely reduce the risk. Dr. Vincent Hark, professor of Hydrology and Water Management at Bangor University, believes that some of these projects such as the Three Gorges Dam lack the necessary safety and functioning mechanisms to address the increasingly frequent flooding events that have befallen the region in recent years.
The Effects of Erosion
The Yangtze River delta is highly susceptible to changes in erosion, which is one of the most severe threats to the region’s ecosystem. Experts point to development projects and water engineering schemes by cities in the delta as the primary cause of riverbank erosion. For example, while structures such as the Three Gorges Dam are necessary to control the potential flooding, their long-term effects on the environment are damaging and tend to destabilise the Yangtze Delta further.
A particularly alarming trend has been the cutting down of trees and vegetation along the Yangtze Delta to make way for construction projects. This decrease in vegetation, combined with an increase in industrial pollution, has had a belligerent effect on the river, causing it to deposit more sediment in the estuary. These processes lead to the destruction of habitats, leaving many of the unique species in the area at risk of extinction.
In addition, the destruction of vegetation and increased pollution from industry and urban development have also caused a decrease in water quality in the estuary. As a result, traditional forms of fishing in the region have be negatively impacted. The combination of these forces have led to dire consequences for the local communities who have relied on this resource for centuries.
The Importance of Conservation
The Yangtze River and its delta are precious and diverse ecosystems that must be protected in order to avoid irreparable damage to the environment. To do this, the Chinese government have been implementing development projects of their own in an attempt to preserve the riverbanks and reduce the risk of flooding, however the success of these projects is dubious.
One project deemed of importance has been the growth of wetland habitats, which represent one of the most viable solutions to combatting land erosion. By providing a suitable habitat for wildlife, and maintaining a healthy ecosystem, wetlands are capable of breaking down sediment and flooding in the delta region and better protecting the river banks.
This is not the only solution, however, and much must still be done in order to guarantee the conservation and protection of the Yangtze Delta. The pressing need for more effective strategies and development projects emphasise the importance of the region and its effective preservation.
The Preservation of Biodiversity
The Yangtze River Delta is one of the most ecologically diverse and productive ecosystems in the world, and its preservation is largely dependent on the effective conservation of its remarkable biodiversity. The need for conservation is not only linked to the protection of the environment, but also of the seventy species of fish in the area, as well as numerous other species that inhabit the wetlands.
Furthermore, the protection of biodiversity is integral to the survival of local species and communities, as the availability of natural habitats is key to their continued existence. This means that intervention and conservation measures must be taken to protect the river and its biodiversity.
The Hope and Potential of the Future
Despite conservation efforts over the years, the Yangtze River Delta remains under threat and its future is yet uncertain. Nevertheless, there is hope, and it is possible that the future of the region could be brighter, provided that new solutions are found.
Experts have suggested that the most effective way forward is to find a balance between riverside development and environmental safeguard. This could be done through greater investment in conservation measures, as well as better enforcement of the existing laws and regulations that protect the Yangtze Delta.
The potential of the Yangtze Delta is enormous and if these solutions can be implemented and organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) can rally behind them, then the hope for the future of the region may not be a distant dream.
A Sustainable Future
In order to guarantee the continued success of the Yangtze Delta, projects must take into consideration both the long and short-term effects on the environment. In the long-term, it is essential to maintain a natural balance, as any actions or engineering projects must be sustainable in order to be successful. By investing in research and infrastructure development, the future of the region may be secured.
At the same time, organisations such as the IUCN and the World Wildlife Fund must be consulted in order to ensure that conservation efforts are properly implemented, and that the biodiversity of the region is protected. This requires the power of local governments and international organisations coming together to collaborate and make the dream of a sustainable future for the Yangtze Delta a reality.
Developing an Empowering Vision
The Yangtze Delta is a rich tapestry of cultures, peoples, and ecosystems, and its conservation is of utmost importance. In order to guarantee its continued success, however, it requires an empowering vision for the future and a collective effort from all parties involved.
The future of the Yangtze Delta will depend on the actions taken by both local and international organisations to ensure its sustainable development and the protection of its ecosystems. In order to achieve this, these organisations and governments must invest in research, education, and conservation programs, as well as take into consideration the long-term effects of riverside engineering projects.
Only then can the Yangtze Delta be safe-guarded and become a beacon of hope and progress for the community and everyone involved in the region.
