Songhua River

The Songhua River is a vital waterway in northeastern China. It is also known by the names Haixi or Xingal. This river is the longest tributary of the Amur River. A tributary is a smaller river that flows into a larger one. The Songhua is a primary river for the region. It plays a major role in the geography of the area.

The river begins its journey south of Heaven Lake. This source is located near the border between China and North Korea. It starts in the Changbai Mountains. From this high point, the water flows northward. The river moves through two Chinese provinces. These are Jilin and Heilongjiang. As it travels, it drains a large area of land. Its annual discharge reaches a significant volume.

The shape of the river changes because of the land. Much of the Northeast China Plain is extremely flat. This flatness causes the river to meander. To meander means to follow a winding, curving path. Over long periods, the river moves across the plain. This process creates oxbow lakes. These lakes are the remnants of the river's old paths. They sit on the plain as traces of where the water once flowed.

Human engineering has altered the river's flow through hydroelectric dams. These dams use moving water to create electricity. The first three dams are the Baishan, Hongshi, and Fengman dams. The Fengman Dam is especially large. It forms a lake that stretches for many kilometers. Below this dam, the river is called the Second Songhua. It flows north through Jilin. Eventually, it meets the Nen River near Da'an. This meeting forms the Songhua proper.

The Songhua continues its path through several important areas. After joining the Nen River, it turns east. It flows through the city of Harbin. After passing Harbin, the Ashi River joins it from the south. Later, the Hulan River joins from the north. In 2007, engineers built another dam near Bayan. This dam is located 50 km northeast of Harbin. It created the Dadingshan Reservoir. The reservoir takes its name from a scenic area on the south bank. The river then flows through Jiamusi. It passes south of the Lesser Xing'an Range. Finally, it joins the Amur at Tongjiang.

The river's behavior changes with the seasons. From late November until March, the Songhua freezes.

During the spring thaw, the river reaches its highest flows. This happens because mountain snow melts and runs into the water. The river is also used for transportation. Medium-sized ships can navigate the water up to Harbin. Smaller craft can travel further upstream. They can reach Jilin on the Songhua. On the Nen River, smaller boats can reach Qiqihar.

Major cities are built along the banks of the Songhua. These include Jilin, Harbin, and Jiamusi. Because people live nearby, the river is very important for water supplies. However, the river has faced environmental challenges. In November 2005, benzene contaminated the water. This spill forced Harbin to shut down its water supply. The pollution eventually reached the Amur River on the China-Russia border. In July 2010, floods occurred near Jilin City. These floods washed away several thousand barrels from two chemical plants. Some barrels contained explosive materials like trimethylsilyl chloride and hexamethyldisiloxane. In 2016, a minor flood affected the area near Jilin. These events show how connected the river is to the safety of the people living near it.