Yalu River

Geography

Rising 2,500 m above sea level on Baitou Mountain in the Changbai (Changbaek) mountain range, on the Chinese-North Korean border, the river flows south to Hyesan before sweeping 130 km northwest to Lin-Chiang and then returning to a more southerly route for a further 300 km to empty into the Korea Bay between Dandong (China) and Shinŭiju (North Korea).

The bordering Chinese provinces are Jilin and Liaoning.

The river is almost 800 km long and receives the water from over 30,000 km² of land. The Yalu's most significant tributaries are the Changjin, Herchun, and Tokro rivers. The river is not easily navigable for most of its length: although at its widest it is around 5 km, the depth is no greater than 3 m and much of the river is heavily silted.

History

The river basin is the site where the kingdom of Goguryeo rose into power. The Great Wall of China's eastern end terminates at the river.

Because of its strategic location between China and Korea, the river has been the site of several battles, including:

• Battle of Yalu River (1894) - Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)
• Battle of Yalu River (1904) - Russo-Japanese War

The Korean side of the river was heavily industrialized during the Japanese Colonial Period (1910-1945), and by 1945 almost 20% of Japan's total industrial output originated in Korea. During the Korean War the movement of UN troops approaching the river provoked massive Chinese intervention from around Dandong. In the course of the conflict every bridge across the river except one was destroyed.

Since the early 1990's, the river has frequently been crossed by undocumented migrants from North Korea to China.

Economy

The river is important for hydroelectric power, and one of the largest hydroelectric dams in Asia is the Sup'ung-nodongjagu, upstream from Shinŭiju. It is 100 m high and over 850 m long.

See also: Geography of China

Referenced By