weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

The MEKONG RIVER is a trans-boundary river in East and Southeast Asia. It is the world's 12th longest river and the third longest in Asia with a length of 4,900 km (3,050 mi), draining an area of 800,000 km² (300,000 sq mi) - larger than the size of Turkey, discharging 475 km³ (114 cu mi) of water annually. From the Tibetan Plateau, the river runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Extreme seasonal variations in flow and the presence of rapids and waterfalls make navigation difficult. Even so, the river is a major trade route between western China and Southeast Asia.

COURSE - The Mekong originates in the "three rivers source area" on the Tibetan Plateau in the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve, which protects the headwaters of the mighty Yellow, Yangtze, and Mekong Rivers. In Western China, the Mekong flows through the Tibetan Autonomous Region, then southeast into Yunnan Province, and the Three Parallel Rivers Area in the Hengduan Mountains, along with the Yangtze to its east and the Salween River to its west.

Then the Mekong meets the China–Myanmar border and flows briefly along that border until it reaches the tripoint of China, Myanmar and Laos. From there it flows southwest and forms the border of Myanmar and Laos for about 100 km (62 mi) until it arrives at the tripoint of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, where it is joined by the Ruak River (which follows the Thai–Myanmar border). The area of this tripoint is sometimes termed the Golden Triangle, although that term also refers to the much larger area of those three countries that once was notorious as a drug producing region.

From the Golden Triangle tripoint, the Mekong turns southeast to briefly form the border of Laos with Thailand, eventually traversing Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam where it joins the South China Sea through its many arms in the extensive Mekong River Delta (over 40,000 km² / 15,600 sq mi - about the size of Switzerland or substantially larger that the US state of Maryland).

HISTORY - The difficulty of navigating the river has meant that it has divided, rather than united, the people who live near it. The earliest known settlements date to 210 BCE, with the archaeological site of Ban Chiang in northeast Thailand being an excellent example of early Iron Age culture. The earliest recorded civilization was the first century Indianized-Khmer culture of Funan, in the Mekong delta. Excavations have found coins from as far away as the Roman Empire. This was succeeded by the Khmer culture Chenla state around the 5th century. The Khmer empire of Angkor was the last great Indianized state in the region. From around the time of the fall of the Khmer empire, the Mekong was the front line between the emergent states of Siam and Tonkin (North Vietnam), with Laos and Cambodia, then on the coast, torn between their influence.

The first European to encounter the Mekong was the Portuguese António de Faria in 1540. A European map of 1563 depicts the river, although even by then little was known of the river upstream of the delta. European interest was sporadic: the Spanish and Portuguese mounted some missionary and trade expeditions, while the Dutch Gerrit van Wuysthoff led an expedition up the river as far as Vientiane in 1641–42. The French invaded the region in the mid-19th century, capturing Saigon in 1861, and establishing a protectorate over Cambodia in 1863.

NATURAL HISTORY - The Mekong basin is one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world, only the Amazon boasts a higher level. Biota estimates for the Greater Mekong Subregion include 20,000 plant species, 430 mammals, 1,200 birds, 800 reptiles and amphibians, and an estimated 850 freshwater fish species. New species are regularly described from the Mekong. In 2009, 145 species previously unknown to science were described from the region. Between 1997 and 2015, an average of two new species per week were discovered. The Mekong Region contains 16 WWF Global 200 ecoregions, the greatest concentration of ecoregions in mainland Asia.

No other river is home to so many species of very large fish. The biggest include three species of Probarbus barbs, which can grow up to 1.5 m (5 ft) and weigh 70 kg (150 lb), the giant freshwater stingray (5 m / 16 ft long and 1.9 m / 6 wide), the giant pangasius, giant barb and the endemic Mekong giant catfish. The last three can grow up to about 3 m /10 ft long and weigh 300 kg (660 lb). All of these have declined drastically because of dams, flood control and overfishing.

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The next two posts will cover a short boat ride we took on the Mekong river, starting very close to the golden Giant Buddha statue at the Ban Sok Ruak village in Chiang Saen and then floating first upriver along the shore of Myanmar in the west and Laos in the east, and then downriver with Laos still in the east and now Thailand in the west. Along the way, we encountered some quite relaxed boat traffic and were able to observe structures in the three countries ranging from very basic to quite opulent.

On the short stretch along the Myanmar border, we saw mainly just one larger building, the Golden Triangle Paradise Resort, which was built as a gambling casino at the very confluence of the Ruak river, marking the border between Thailand and Myanmar, with the Mekong. This resort is catering mainly to Thai tourists, as the Thai population is definitely more affluent than the populations of Myanmar or Laos. Similarly, the shore line on the Laos side was also only lightly inhabited, with one small tourist oriented zone at Donsao, where we briefly stopped at their local market. However, we noticed the start of larger development projects at that time (2013) in the "Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone", established recently in 2007 by Laos together with a Chinese-owned Group, with the hope of generating economic development, including the construction of resort and casino facilities, catering mainly to a Chinese clientele. The ownership of that group is suspected of large-scale criminal activities and is sanctioned by the US Treasury. - There is much more diverse economic activity taking place on the Thai side of the Mekong river shore, as can be seen by the diverse buildings and temples dotting the area.


Notes
TRIP INFO: Set # 1 provides a brief introduction to THIS SERIES on SOUTH & EAST ASIA. See it at
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-724330-1.html

THAILAND COUNTRY INFO in set # 143: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-755664-1.html

EARLIER POSTS of this series: Access my topic list at UHH, the new posts are listed in reverse chronological order:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user-topic-list?usernum=45105

Thanks for visiting, for improved clarity please view the downloads. I look forward to your comments and questions.

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1 - My album title shot taken of the Mekong river at Sop Ruak

(Download)

2 - Looking downriver on the Mekong, with touring boats and a bamboo raft moored on the Thai shore, at left the rivershore of Laos and at rear the hills of Thailand

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3 - A small long-boat flying a Thai flag gliding past us

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4 - Colorful large long-boat moored at the Thai shore

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5 - Tranquil river scene with light commercial traffic

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6 - The Golden Triangle Paradise Resort on the Myanmar shore, at the point where the minor Ruak river, forming the border of Thailand and Myanmar, enters the much more substantial waters of the Mekong, the resort caters mainly to Thai customers

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7 - New tourist infrastructure development on the Laos shore, then (2013) in its infancy, now a large developed Casino and Special Economic Zone area with reportedly very dubious connection to local and international crime

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8 - A closer take of the shore development with a golden dome and stairs lined by an undulating dragon at right

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9 - Seen from the river on the Thai shore: Entrance to the Wat Prathat Pukhao, a 14th century temple, flanked with larger-than-life size images of Thai King Bhumibol and queen Sirikit

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10 - Humble, basic dwellings built on stilts at the Thai shore

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weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

For your reference:

11 - Detailed trip map of the Golden Triangle segment of our tour, in the upper right corner, the Mekong River forms the border between Thailand and Laos, as well as between Myanmar and Laos

(Download)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Nukepr Loc: Citrus County, FL

Thank you for the photos and the nice historical sketch to describe the river.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Excellent captures, Joe.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

A really nice set and narrative, Joe. And thanks for the captions.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thanks Bill!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you Nukepr for looking in on my long-running travelogue and your kind comment which is much appreciated. I am happy to hear also that you enjoyed not just the photos but also the "historical sketch" - I find it provides the proper framework to see the images in, but often I wonder whether I am not going overboard in this regard. Thanks again and welcome to the tour! Joe

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

All that water and color are excellent, Joe!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you Frank for your thumbs of approval!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you Barbara, glad to hear that you enjoyed these images.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you Ken for your nice comment, glad to hear that you enjoyed the images, narrative and captions!

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you Mike, I thought you might like these water shots, glad you did!

Umnak Loc: Mount Vernon, Wa.

Great shots to show off this area Joe! I like the angles you chose in many of these. Especially 9, what a grand view of that entry, well done!
Lots of interesting info on these shots and the area as well!! I too love the water in many and your usual great colors shown throughout!

Rob