Han River (Shaanxi and Hubei)

Han River (汉江)
Han Jiang / Hanshui
The Hankou side of the Han River in Wuhan
Country China
Regions Shaanxi, Hubei
Part of Yangtze River basin
Tributaries
 - left Xun, Dan, Bai River (China), Fushui River
 - right Du, Chi, Nan, Muma
Cities Hanzhong, Ankang, Shiyan, Xiangyang, Wuhan
Source Near Hanzhong
 - location Qin Mountains, Shaanxi
 - elevation 580 m (1,903 ft)
 - coordinates 33°08′32″N 106°49′42″E / 33.14222°N 106.82833°E / 33.14222; 106.82833
Mouth Yangtze River
 - location Wuhan, Hubei
 - elevation 75 m (246 ft)
 - coordinates 30°33′52″N 114°17′30″E / 30.56444°N 114.29167°E / 30.56444; 114.29167Coordinates: 30°33′52″N 114°17′30″E / 30.56444°N 114.29167°E / 30.56444; 114.29167
Length 1,532 km (952 mi), Northwest-southeast
Basin 174,300 km2 (67,298 sq mi)
Discharge
 - average 2,156 m3/s (76,138 cu ft/s)
 - max 105,000 m3/s (3,708,040 cu ft/s)
Map highlighting watershed of the Han Jiang
Han River
Traditional Chinese 漢江
Simplified Chinese 汉江
Literal meaning Han River
 
Traditional Chinese 漢水
Simplified Chinese 汉水
Literal meaning Han River

The Han River, also known by its Chinese names as the Han Shui and Han Jiang, is a left tributary of the Yangtze in central China. It has a length of 1,532 kilometers (952 mi) and is the longest tributary of the Yangtze system.

The river gave its name to the Han dynasty and, through it, to the Han Chinese, the dominant ethnicity in China and the most populous ethnic group in the world. It is also the namesake of the city of Hanzhong on its upper course.

Geography

The headwaters of the Han flow from Mount Bozhong in southwestern Shaanxi.[1] The stream then travels east across the southern part of that province.[1] Its highland valley—known as the Qinba Laolin[lower-alpha 1]—divides and is protected by the Qinling or Qin Mountains to its north and the Dabashan or Daba Mountains to its south.[1] The main cities are Hanzhong in the west and Ankang in the east. It then enters Hubei. It crosses most of Hubei from the northwest to the southeast, falling into the Yangtze at the provincial capital Wuhan,[1] a city of several million inhabitants. The merging rivers divide the city of Wuhan into three sections: Wuchang in the south, Hankou to the northeast of the confluence, and Hanyang to its southwest. The area surrounding the confluence is known as the Jianghan Plain.[1]

Apart from a few major basins, such as the area around Hanzhong, the highlands of the Han were covered in primeval forests as late as the 19th century. The Nanshan Forest covered the northern slopes; the Bashan Forest, the southern.[2]

Hydroelectric Projects

Danjiangkou Dam was constructed on the Han River in northern Hubei in 1958. It has been heightened since. The Danjiangkou Reservoir created thereby is now used as part of the South–North Water Transfer Project.

Culture

The river was previously considered holy by the inhabitants on its banks.[1] It is also considered part of the dividing line between northern and southern China.[1]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Also known in Chinese as "one river enclosed by two mountains" (Liangshan Jia Yichuan).[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wang Wensheng, White Lotus Rebels and South China Pirates, p. 54.
  2. ↑ Wang, p. 55.
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