Image 10The
Salween is a
Southeast Asian river, about 3,289 kilometres (2,044 mi) long, flowing from the
Tibetan Plateau south into the
Andaman Sea. The Salween flows primarily within southwest
China and eastern
Myanmar (Burma), with a short section forming the border of Burma and
Thailand. Throughout most of its course, it runs swiftly through rugged mountain canyons. Despite the river's great length, only the last 90 km (56 mi) are navigable, where it forms a modest estuary and delta at
Mawlamyine. The river is known by various names along its course, including the
Thanlwin (named after
Elaeocarpus sp., an olive-like plant that grows on its banks) in Burma and the
Nu Jiang (or Nu River, named after
Nu people) in China. The commonly used spelling "Salween" is an
anglicisation of the Burmese name dating from 19th-century British maps.
Due to its great range of elevation and latitude coupled with geographic isolation, the Salween basin is considered one of the most ecologically diverse regions in the world, containing an estimated 25 percent of the world's terrestrial animal species and thousands of plant species. Along its course the Salween provides water for agriculture and supports abundant fisheries, especially in the delta region. The Salween basin is home to numerous ethnic minority groups, whose ancestors largely originated in the Tibetan Plateau and northwest China. Starting about 5,000 years ago, people began migrating south along the river, establishing small kingdoms and
city-states. (
Full article...)