SAVING THE SALWEEN
The Last Wild River of Asia
The powerful Salween flows over 2,800 kilometres from source to sea. It rises in the Tangula Mountain region (Amdo, Tibetan plateau) and courses through Tibet, southwest China and Burma (shared with the Thai border), before finally emptying into the Andaman Sea. Through Tibet and Yunnan Province, the river carves a majestic 'grand canyon'—some 700 km in length. At certain points, the canyon is an astonishing 4,500 metres deep. The river is of little commercial value, which has proved to be a positive thing because its great beauty is preserved for much of its length—the last major freeflowing river of Asia. ...more
YARLUNG TSANGPO
Heartland of Tibet
The Yarlung Tsangpo runs through the heartland of Tibet from west to east. It is often referred to in its short form, the Tsangpo, and is also known as: Yarlung Zangbo Jiang (Chinese); Brahmaputra (Indian—but referring to the river within India); Jamuna (Bangladesh). ...more
© mqrphoto
MEKONG
mired in controversy
No river in Asia has generated as much controversy as the Mekong, which rises on the Tibetan plateau and courses through Tibet, China, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Mekong is a lifeline for Southeast Asian nations as it supplies fish—a major staple in places like Cambodia and Vietnam. Severely disrupting fish migration and hatching is a string of mega-dams in southwest China. More huge dams are under way in Laos and Cambodia—a number of them being built and financed by China. ...more