The Mekong River is a trans-boundary river in Southeast Asia that flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is an important resource for the 60 million people who live in its lower basin, providing water, irrigation, transport and food. However, the river is also facing threats from pollution, habitat destruction, and large hydroelectric dams which could disrupt the ecosystem. Managing development while protecting the environment and livelihoods of those who rely on the Mekong River is an ongoing challenge.

1. Mekongriver
Loh Ang (19)
Tony Ng (20)

2. Content
1. Geography
2. History
3. Benefits and Problems
4. Impact
5. Different Views
6. Environmental Aspects
7. References

3. A trans-boundary river
12th longest river in the world
7th longest river in Asia
Length: 4350 km
Drainage Area: 795,000 km2
Annual discharge of water: 457 km3

4. Geography

5. Runs through
China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia
& Vietnam

7. Lasagongma Spring
Source of Mekong River
A glacier stream
Found in the North side of Guosangmucha
Mountain (China)
Elevation of 5514 m

9. South China Sea
Mouth of Mekong River
Is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific
Ocean
Encompasses an area from the Singapore and
Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of
around 3,500,000 km2

10. Tributaries and Distributaries
Tributaries Distributaries
Nam Ta Tien
Nam Ou Ham Luong
Nam Soung Co Chien
Nam Khan Bassac

12. Upper Course
Known as Dzi Chu
Steep Descends
Swift Rapids

13. Rapids
Forms as Mekong River
tumbles from the Tibetan
plateau
Makes the Mekong
River one of the
strongest rivers in
the world (Toptenz)

14. Middle Course
Known as Latsan Chiang
Place where Myanmar,
Thailand and Laos converge

15. Golden Triangle
Area of around 950,000 km2
Overlaps the mountains of Myanmar, Laos and
Thailand
Designates the confluence
of the Ruak River and the
Mekong River

16. Lower Course
● Used for irrigation
● One third of the combined
population for Thailand,
Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam

17. Tônlé Sap
The largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia
An ecological hot spot that was designated as a
UNESCO biosphere in 1997
From November to May: Cambodia's dry season,
the Tonlé Sap drains into the Mekong River at
Phnom Penh
When the year's heavy rains begin in June: the
Tonlé Sap backs up to form an enormous lake

19. Mekong Delta
Is the region in southwestern Vietnam where
the Mekong River approaches and empties into
the sea through a network of distributaries
Encompasses an area of about 39 000 km2
Recently been dubbed as a 'biological treasure
trove'

21. Floating Markets
The highlights of the Mekong delta
Central markets in the delta
People can buy fruit and vegetables from
local production
The goods are sold directly from the boats
Owners hang the available products on
long poles, so that
people can see what’s on offer from far

23. History

24. History
Earliest known settlement: Ban Chiang
(2100 BC)
Earliest recorded civilisation : Indianised-Khmer
culture of Funan (1st Century)
Last great Indianised state: Khmer Empire of
Angkor
The French used this river to take control of the
region

26. Benefits
Provides Cambodia with
water via the annual
floods
Tonle Sap is a tourist
attraction
Its high-quality water can
fetch a high price

27. Problems
Floods Major Cities
2000: Floods killed more
than 480 people across the
Delta region
2001: More than 300 people
died when the Mekong
overflowed its banks
2011: At least 150 people in
Cambodia and Southern Vietnam
died due to Mekong flooding and flash
floods

28. Impact

29. People
60 million people live at the Mekong Lower
Basin
40% live at the 15 km corridor of Mekong River

30. How are their lives affected?
The Mekong River acts as the region's highway
and provides access to trade, food security and
livelihoods

31. Different Views

32. People’s View
Most feel that it is worth it to visit Mekong River
(Tripadvisor)

33. Religious View
Important place for buddhist temples such as
Bén Lúc temple

34. Educational View
Students are being educated on the benefits
and problems created by the Mekong River
and how to preserve the natural environment of
Mekong River

35. Economical view
The floating market and the Mekong Delta are
famous tourist attraction that boost the
economy of the region

36. Environmental
Aspect

37. Environmental Aspect
The Mekong River supports many species of
life such as fish serving as a migration path
Many animals live at the Mekong River
drainage basin

38. Ecosystem
● Forests
❖ Great Mekong Subregion lost just under a
third of its forest cover between 1973 and
2009
● Freshwater
❖ Mekong river basin contains one of the most
productive and diverse river systems on
Earth

39. Organisms
More than 1,100 freshwater species of fish are
found in Mekong River
Second only to the Amazon River in terms of fish
biodiversity
Organisms include the last remaining populations
of the Irrawaddy dolphin, giant freshwater stingray,
and the Mekong giant catfish

42. Waste material discharged by factories
pollute and threaten the life in Mekong
River
Construction of big hydropower dams
on the Mekong River may be a great
threat to the future of the river
Threats

43. References
● “River”, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River
● “Mekong”, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekong
● “South China Sea”, Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_China_Sea
● “Mekong River”, tripadvisor,
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293921-
d325305-Reviews-Mekong_River-Vietnam.html
● “Greater Mekong”, WWF,
http://worldwildlife.org/places/greater-mekong
● “Advantages of Mekong River in Phnom Penh”, Sunnarin’s
blog, http://sunnarin.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/advantages-of-
mekong-river-in-phnom-penh/

44. References
● “The Source of the Mekong River, Qinghai, China”,
http://www.shangri-la-river-expeditions.
com/1stdes/mekong/mekongsource/mekongsour
ce.html
● “Tonle Sap”, Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonl%C3%A9_Sap
● “Physiography”, Mekong River Commission,
http://www.mrcmekong.org/the-mekong-basin/physiography/
● “Mekong Delta”, Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekong_Delta
● “Mekong Delta: Wonderful Water World”http://www.mekong-delta-
travel-guide.com/en/activities-attractions/floating-markets

45. References
● “Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia)”, Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Triangle_(Southeast_Asi
a)
● “Top ten most powerful rivers in the world”, Toptenz,
http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-most-powerful-rivers-in-the-world.
php#wux1xeTdQmr3kVzj.99
● “Ecosystems in the Greater Mekong: past trends, current
status, possible futures”, WWF,
http://wwf.panda.org/?208456/Ecosystems-in-the-Greater-
Mekong-past-trends-current-status-possible-futures

46. References
Images from:
● http://environews.ph/biodiversity/dugong-irrawaddy-dolphin-face-
extinction-in-phl/
● www.relievearth.com
● www.crusaders.biz
● http://www.shangri-la-river-expeditions.
com/1stdes/mekong/mekongsource/mekongsour
ce.html
● commons.wikimedia.org
● mekong-river-geography-ispl.blogspot.com
● http://wallpapers.free-review.net/19_~_Home_Environment_-
_desktop_background.htm

47. References
Images from:
● http://www.lifelibertythepursuit.com/organisms-of-our-own-creation/
630/
● mrbelloblog.com
● www.marketingpilgrim.com
● www.pickywallpapers.com
● newsamnews.ioe.ac.uk
● interaction.dundee.ac.uk
● www.hdwallpaperstop.com
● footage.shutterstock.com
● footage.shutterstock.com
● www.123rf.com