Irrawaddy River

The Irrawaddy is a very long river.

It flows through the middle of Myanmar. The water moves from north to south. It ends in the Andaman Sea.

Many boats use the river to move things. This makes it a busy place.

Special animals live in the water. You can find the Irrawaddy dolphin there. These dolphins have round heads.

The river helps people grow food. It also helps people travel. It is a very important river.

The Irrawaddy River is the main river in Myanmar.

It flows from north to south through the center of the country. The river starts where two other rivers meet. These are the N'mai and Mali rivers. The water flows into the Andaman Sea through a large delta.

The river is about 1,350 miles long. It is a very busy place for trade. Many boats use the water to move goods.

People also use the river for fishing and tourism. The river helps farmers grow food with its water.

Many animals live in and around the river. One special animal is the Irrawaddy dolphin. These dolphins have round foreheads and no long beak.

Other animals like the Ganges shark live in the area too. The river's water level changes with the seasons. Heavy rains in the summer make the river much larger. In the dry season, the water level goes down. This can make it hard for boats to travel.

The Irrawaddy River is the most important river in Myanmar.

It flows right through the center of the country. The river is about 1,350 miles long. It moves from the north down to the south. Eventually, the water flows into the Andaman Sea through a large area called a delta.

This river is a major way for people to move goods. It is the biggest waterway for trade in the whole country. The river basin covers 61% of the land in Myanmar.

The river starts where two other rivers meet. These are the N'mai and Mali rivers. They begin in high mountains near Himalayan glaciers.

The N'mai River is the larger eastern branch. It has a very strong current that makes it hard for boats to travel. The Mali River is the smaller western branch. It is easier to travel on, even with a few rapids.

The river travels through different types of land. It flows through deep gaps in rocks called defiles. One gap near Bhamo has tall cliffs. These cliffs are about 60 to 90 meters high.

People have used this river for a very long time. As early as the sixth century, people used it for trade. They also built canals to move water to farms.

This helps farmers grow food for everyone. The river is also a place for fishing and tourism. In the past, European explorers called it the Pegu River. This was because of the Hanthawaddy kingdom.

The name Irrawaddy might come from a word for an elephant. In some stories, elephants are symbols for water.

Many different living things call the river home. There are about 200 species of fish in the river basin.

One of the most famous animals is the Irrawaddy dolphin. These dolphins live in the lower parts of the river. They have a rounded forehead and no long beak.

They are known to help fishers catch fish. Other animals like the Ganges shark also live nearby. However, some people worry about new dams being built. They fear these dams might hurt the homes of these animals.

The river changes a lot during the year. This happens because of the monsoon rains. These rains fall between mid-May and mid-October.

During the rainy season, the water level gets very high. In the dry season, the water level goes down. The lowest water level is usually in February.

At some places, the water can get as shallow as 60 centimeters. Because of this, ports must have different places to land boats. This depends on whether the water is high or low.

The Irrawaddy River is the principal waterway of Myanmar.

It flows through the center of the country from north to south. The river is approximately 1,350 miles long. Its drainage basin covers 404,000 square kilometers. This area accounts for 61% of the land in Myanmar. The river serves as the nation's most important commercial waterway. It supports many large cities and diverse ecosystems.

The river begins at the confluence of two other rivers. These are the N'mai and the Mali rivers. They both start in the Himalayan glaciers of Upper Myanmar. The N'mai is the larger eastern branch. It has a strong current that makes it unnavigable for boats. The Mali is the smaller western branch. It is navigable despite some rapids. Locals often call the main river by the name of the Mali.

As the river flows south, it passes through three distinct defiles. A defile is a narrow pass between mountains or hills. The first defile is 65 kilometers downstream from Myitkyina. The second defile is located below Bhamo. Here, the river cuts through limestone rocks. It is only 90 meters wide at its narrowest point. The cliffs on either side are 60 to 90 meters high.

The third defile is located about 100 kilometers north of Mandalay. In this area, the river enters the Mogok region. Between Katha and Mandalay, the river is remarkably straight. However, it bends sharply near Kabwet. This bend was caused by a sheet of lava. This volcanic field is called the Singu Plateau. It covers about 62 square kilometers.

The river's water levels change significantly due to monsoonal rains. These rains occur between mid-May and mid-October. In the summer, melting glaciers also add more water. The discharge near the delta can reach 40,393 cubic meters per second. In contrast, the low season discharge is much smaller. At Mandalay and Prome, the water level can vary by over 9 meters. This change requires ports to have separate landing areas for high and low water.

Near the end of its journey, the river forms a large delta. This is the Irrawaddy Delta. It is a nine-armed area that empties into the Andaman Sea. The landscape is low and covered in fertile alluvium. Alluvium is fine silt carried by the river. Heavy rainfall helps the delta grow. The surface extends into the sea at a rate of about 50 meters per year.

The river is home to many unique living things. There are about 200 species of fish in the basin. Some fish species are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else. The most famous animal is the Irrawaddy dolphin. These dolphins have a rounded forehead and no beak. They live in the lower reaches of the river. They are known to help local fishers catch fish.

Humans have relied on the Irrawaddy for centuries. As early as the sixth century, people used it for trade. They also built irrigation canals to support agriculture. Today, the river is vital for fisheries and tourism. However, there are concerns about new projects. In 2007, an agreement was signed for seven hydroelectric dams. Environmentalists worry these dams could impact the river's biodiversity. This includes the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin and the Ganges shark.