Songhua River

The Songhua is a big river in China.

It starts near some high mountains. It flows through flat lands. The river winds and turns. This makes many small lakes.

In winter, the water turns to ice.

In spring, mountain snow melts. This makes the river flow fast. Big ships can sail on it.

Many people live near the water. It flows into a larger river. It is a very important river.

The Songhua is a very large river in China.

It starts near the Changbai Mountains. The river flows through the Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. Much of the land here is very flat. This flatness makes the river wind and turn. These turns leave behind small lakes called oxbow lakes.

Water from the river is used for power. There are three large dams on the river. The Fengman Dam makes a long lake. Another dam near Bayan makes the Dadingshan Reservoir. The river flows through cities like Jilin and Harbin.

Medium ships can sail up to Harbin. Smaller boats can go even further.

In winter, the river freezes from November to March.

During the spring, mountain snow melts. This makes the river flow very fast. The Songhua eventually joins the Amur River. This happens at a place called Tongjiang. The river is a very important part of the land.

The Songhua River is a very important waterway in China. It is the longest tributary of the Amur River. This means it is a large river that flows into another one. The river starts near the Changbai Mountains. This area is close to the border of China and North Korea. It flows through the Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces.

The river's path changes because of the land. Much of the Northeast China Plain is extremely flat. Because it is so flat, the river winds and turns over time. These winding paths leave behind small lakes called oxbow lakes. The river rises south of Heaven Lake. It flows north and meets the Nen River near Da'an. This meeting creates the Songhua proper. Then it turns east and flows through the city of Harbin.

People use the river to make electricity. There are three large dams on the river. These are the Baishan, Hongshi, and Fengman dams. The Fengman Dam creates a lake that is very long. Another dam was built in 2007 near Bayan. This dam created the Dadingshan Reservoir. The reservoir is named after a scenic area on the south bank.

There are many things to know about the water. The river freezes from late November until March.

You can see vendors working on the ice. In the spring, mountain snow melts. This melting snow makes the river flow at its highest. Medium-sized ships can sail as far as Harbin. Smaller boats can go up to Jilin. The Nen River can be used by boats up to Qiqihar.

Cities like Jilin, Harbin, and Jiamusi sit along the river. The river has faced some hard times in the past. In November 2005, benzene spilled into the water. This caused Harbin to shut down its water supply. In July 2010, floods washed away chemical barrels from Jilin City. Some of these barrels held explosive materials. In 2016, a minor flood happened near Jilin. Finally, the Songhua joins the Amur River at Tongjiang.

The Songhua River is a vital waterway in northeastern China. It is also known by the names Haixi or Xingal. This river is the longest tributary of the Amur River. A tributary is a smaller river that flows into a larger one. The Songhua is a primary river for the region. It plays a major role in the geography of the area.

The river begins its journey south of Heaven Lake. This source is located near the border between China and North Korea. It starts in the Changbai Mountains. From this high point, the water flows northward. The river moves through two Chinese provinces. These are Jilin and Heilongjiang. As it travels, it drains a large area of land. Its annual discharge reaches a significant volume.

The shape of the river changes because of the land. Much of the Northeast China Plain is extremely flat. This flatness causes the river to meander. To meander means to follow a winding, curving path. Over long periods, the river moves across the plain. This process creates oxbow lakes. These lakes are the remnants of the river's old paths. They sit on the plain as traces of where the water once flowed.

Human engineering has altered the river's flow through hydroelectric dams. These dams use moving water to create electricity. The first three dams are the Baishan, Hongshi, and Fengman dams. The Fengman Dam is especially large. It forms a lake that stretches for many kilometers. Below this dam, the river is called the Second Songhua. It flows north through Jilin. Eventually, it meets the Nen River near Da'an. This meeting forms the Songhua proper.

The Songhua continues its path through several important areas. After joining the Nen River, it turns east. It flows through the city of Harbin. After passing Harbin, the Ashi River joins it from the south. Later, the Hulan River joins from the north. In 2007, engineers built another dam near Bayan. This dam is located 50 km northeast of Harbin. It created the Dadingshan Reservoir. The reservoir takes its name from a scenic area on the south bank. The river then flows through Jiamusi. It passes south of the Lesser Xing'an Range. Finally, it joins the Amur at Tongjiang.

The river's behavior changes with the seasons. From late November until March, the Songhua freezes.

During the spring thaw, the river reaches its highest flows. This happens because mountain snow melts and runs into the water. The river is also used for transportation. Medium-sized ships can navigate the water up to Harbin. Smaller craft can travel further upstream. They can reach Jilin on the Songhua. On the Nen River, smaller boats can reach Qiqihar.

Major cities are built along the banks of the Songhua. These include Jilin, Harbin, and Jiamusi. Because people live nearby, the river is very important for water supplies. However, the river has faced environmental challenges. In November 2005, benzene contaminated the water. This spill forced Harbin to shut down its water supply. The pollution eventually reached the Amur River on the China-Russia border. In July 2010, floods occurred near Jilin City. These floods washed away several thousand barrels from two chemical plants. Some barrels contained explosive materials like trimethylsilyl chloride and hexamethyldisiloxane. In 2016, a minor flood affected the area near Jilin. These events show how connected the river is to the safety of the people living near it.