Wuchang, Nanjing, Hanyang and Anqing are principal cities that border the river whilst the Jiangsu province is one of the leading rice – growing areas of China. Once again, the river provides a means of transport for those wanting to buy or sell rice.
- Unlike seas, which contain saltwater, rivers are freshwater sources. Freshwater is profitable for the public. It is a renewable supply of water needed for crop growth and so farmers need not worry about having to rely on poor water systems similar to those of other ELDC’s to nourish their crops required to feed themselves and their families and to provide an income by selling it to others.
- People living in ELDC’s usually lack facilities, for example many live in shantytowns and are oblivious to electricity, efficient sewerage systems, washing machines etc. Therefore the Yangtze is an excellent provision in which the majority of the poor Chinese population can wash clothes, clean them, cook, nourish crops. A resourceful amount of water also makes it easier for farmers to breed animals such as chickens, cattle etc. This means that the animals can reproduce to establish a new generation once they are slaughtered to provide food for personal consumption and trade.
- The Yangtze harbours a unique ecosystem and contains a huge haven rich with fish and various creatures worthy of human ingestion. Consequently, the river provides a reserve of food for those who struggle with little or no revenue who cannot afford to squander money when it is already sparse.
- The Yangtze is home to some of the world’s most picturesque sights desired by people the world over. Thus, many people cultivate an interest in the landscape of the Yangtze and make an effort to witness its beauty. Tourists to the Yangtze promote jobs along the river, for example, in order for cruises to happen along the river, boat drivers are required. An increase in the amount of visitors to the river means that a demand for restaurants and tour guides eventuates. These jobs are beneficial for they do not require skills adopted from higher education. As China is an ELDC, fewer people have the advantage to go to school and it is likely that the majority of the population is illiterate. Therefore they cannot employ jobs that require knowledge for it is likely that they have greater ability to complete primary jobs. Those that live upon the Yangtze are probably familiar with the area and so it does not require a lot for them to inform tourists about what they know about the river.
The type of boat used for cruising along the river has a simple structure, they
do not require fuel, and are made from wood that is easily accessed from the
surrounding trees. As a result, those that are not acquired with an education
would find it easy to drive along the river to entertain guests whiles earning
money at the same time.
The Chinese are world famous for their culinary skills, as they cook primarily with rice, meat and vegetables, they would be able to prepare food with the resources that they have in order to sell it for competitive prices to visitors.
- The diagram below divides the river into three separate segments and shows specific characteristics of each part of the river:
Floods:
- The Three Gorges Dam appeals to be a significant step for the Chinese population in order to control hydrological activity. Prior to the dam’s erection, there have been many participants that have shaped China’s vulnerability to flooding from the Yangtze.
- Floods have tormented the indigenous community of the Yangtze River for centuries. Not a decade has passed during the last 2000 years where there hasn’t been a flood. Once a flood occurs, its hyperactive movements cause harsh damage and it is estimated that £2.9 billion is required to successfully repair complete annihilation.
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At least 1,683,500 sq. km (approximately 650,000 sq. miles) of terrain is drained by the Yangtze River during a flood. The primary tributaries are the Han, Yalong, Jialing, Min, Tuo He, on the north and on the south of the river and the Wu at Zhenjiang. Despite these outlets being capable of storing surplus water during periods of heavy rainfall, floods have previously caused much devastation to property and the Chinese community. Below is a table advertising major flood events in China caused by the Yangtze:
- The flood system is intricate due to the size of the Yangtze’s drainage basin. Floods are caused by local rain - surplus water that the river cannot hoard, spills onto the riverbanks and runs onto land where water is not supposed to travel.
- In 1998, the floods were worsened when a combination of heavy winter snows on the Tibetan plateau and torrential rain between June and mid – August which had knock – on effects on the lower zones of the river. 1000mm of rainwater were falling each day and this precipitation found itself to Lou Shui to cause flooding.
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Although environmental factors take part in circulating floods, human activity was discovered to play an essential role. The flood flow was not responsible for increased flooding but the rise in flood level due to siltation on the riverbed causes injury. In the upper segment of the river between the plateau of Tibet and Yichang, soil erosion is accountable for the flooding.
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Commercial logging in China has inevitably lessened the amount of foliage hence there has been a reduction in infiltration. A loss of water storage has been introduced and soil exposure has increased and has caused an escalation in soil and water transportation downwards. The force of water pounding onto the soil creates a watery mud which flows over surfaces more quickly and easily than solids. This means that the soil combined with the water is prone to movement and travels further along the riverbed picking up more soil as it moves and creating further soil exposure, which then follows the same method once it is unleashed to the water. Siltation, therefore has caused lake and riverbeds to increase in height by nearly 2 metres in 30 years. This welcomes depreciation in the capacity of natural hold in the middle and lower sectors of the river.
- Population strains have shrunk the amount of land required for flood control. Farmers have intruded onto areas susceptible to flooding which are planned to contain water. This rapid urban expansion has reduced infiltration – land where water could once be absorbed into the soil with ease has become an ideal settlement for people who have evacuated places elsewhere due to previous flooding. This means that the river water has had to divert and the amount of liquid is not proportional to the surface area causing unwanted inundations.
