Salween River

News: Recent reports highlight arsenic contamination in the Salween River, raising concern over threats to one of Asia’s longest free-flowing rivers.

About Salween River

• The Salween River is a major transboundary river in Asia and is the longest undammed river in mainland Southeast Asia.
• Alternative Names: It is known as the Nu River in China and the Thanlwin River in Myanmar.
• Origin: The river originates about 4,000 m above sea level  in the Tanggula Mountains in the central Tibetan Plateau.
• Course: The river flows through western Yunnan in China, passes through Myanmar, forms the border between Myanmar and Thailand for some distance, and then re-enters Myanmar.
  • Three Parallel Rivers Region: The upper course flows parallel to the Mekong and Yangtze rivers, forming the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan UNESCO World Heritage Site .
• Transboundary River: It is shared by China, Myanmar, and Thailand, making it an important international river system.
• Destination: It drains into the Gulf of Martaban in the Andaman Sea.
• Length: It is approximately 2,400 km long.
• Tributaries: Important tributaries include the Pang, Teng, Pawn, Hka, Hsim, and Moei rivers.
• Ecological importance: The river basin supports over 200 fish species, including one-third endemic species, and it is believed to support over 25% of the world’s and over 50% of China’s animal species, showing its high ecological value.
• Significance: The river is important as it supports over 10 million people, rich biodiversity, and many ethnic communities dependent on its resources.