Facts About The Three Parallel Rivers Of Yunnan Protected Areas Facts

Do you know which terrestrial ecoregion is also a World Heritage Site in China?

Yes, it's the three parallel rivers protected areas of Yunnan. This area offers the most beautiful sight of three huge rivers flowing calmly in parallel!

This region is also known as Yúnnán Sānjiāngbìngliú. The selected natural beauty and nature reserves from this unique area were awarded the heritage site honor for their rich biodiversity and fantastic topographical diversity. Let's learn interesting facts about this region in the following article!

Discovery And History

The three parallel rivers area of Yunnan Province is home to various endangered plants, which are also endemic to the region. There are around 6,000 plant species found in this region. Rhododendron varieties are more than 200, and primulas and gentian (bitterwort) are almost 100 species. This region is also famous for various important ecological processes and is known as the biological hotspot.

The region of Yunnan was discovered and said to have been established in 1274. Despite that, the three parallel rivers region got a world heritage status in July 2003. This UNESCO world heritage site takes up 1.7 million hectares of land. The glacial peaks have been built over numerous years, which are 6,000 m high, and the lowest altitude in this region is 3,000 m deep.

Cultural Heritage

The Yunnan province is has a great landscape diversity that consists of steep gorges and high mountains along with luxuriant forests from which you cannot take your eyes off! Apart from the beautiful natural habitats, the Yunnan province is famously known for its three parallel rivers. Let us understand the role of these three parallel rivers in cultural heritage.

This region is one of the protected areas and is also named the natural World Heritage Site. The three parallel rivers' protected areas are home to various minority groups from China, making its demographic make-up very interesting. There are about 25 minorities in the Yunnan province. Some of these minorities are the Nu people, Tibetan people, Bai, Pumi, Lisu, and Naxi. It also includes the Derung tribe, which is one of the smallest minority groups in China. Adding to the cultural heritage is the traditional attire these minorities still wear every day.

Geographical Facts

The three parallel rivers region is described as one of the biologically diverse temperate regions on the Earth by UNESCO. These protected areas are also called one of the most exceptional ranges of topographical features, which range from steep gorges to snow mountains and an area with exceptional geological diversity. Let us take a look at interesting geographical facts about these protected areas.

There are almost eight geographical clusters of highly protected areas in this region. The three parallel rivers area is divided into two parts, the core area, and the buffer area, which total about 2372419.23 acres (960,084 ha) and 2017400.46 acres (816,413 ha), respectively, across a wide region of 112 miles (180 km) by 193 miles (310 km). 

The geographical clusters of this region show us how beautifully three vast rivers flow almost in parallel to one another for about 186 miles (300 km) distance and are divided by steep gorges and mountains that are as high as 6561.68 yds (6,000 m). After the collision point or the area of confluence, these three parallel rivers get diverged as follows: Nujiang becomes the Salween which gets emptied in Moulmein, Burma, Yangtze gets emptied in the East China Sea, Shanghai, and Lancang becomes the Mekong which gets emptied into the South China Sea.

Site Statistics

Did you know that there is another river parallel to these three rivers? Yes, the N'Mai river, which is the main tributary of the Irrawaddy river, flows somewhat in parallel to these three rivers. Let's learn some site statistics facts below.

There are 15 protected regions in the three parallel rivers region of Yunnan Province. These 15 areas are grouped into eight different geographical clusters.

This region has a subtropical monsoon climate with average annual precipitation ranging from 4,600 mm, which lies in the Dulongjian area, to 300 mm near the topmost valleys of the Yangtze River. 

There are almost 173 different species of mammals and 6,000 varieties of plants in this region. In addition to this, there are 417 various species of birds. Eighty-one mammal species and 22 bird species are endemic to this region. A large part of this region is covered with broadleaf and coniferous forests. 

FAQs

Q: What are the three rivers that make up the Parallel rivers?

A: The three rivers that make up the Parallel rivers are namely the Yangtze, the Mekong, and the Salween rivers. All these three are located in China.

Q: What are the parallel rivers in Southeast Asia?

A: The parallel rivers of Southeast Asia are the Yangtze, the Mekong, and the Salween rivers.

Q: Which river flows through the Yunnan plateau?

A: Three rivers flow through the Yunnan plateau, namely, Yangtze (Jinsha), Salween (Nujiang), and Mekong (Lancang).

Q: Where do the three great rivers meet?

A: The three parallel rivers meet in the Yunnan province.

Q: Is the Yangtze River the Yellow River?

A: No, the Yangtze river flows through the south of China, whereas the Yellow river flows through the north.

Q: Where is the Chang Jiang river?

A: Chang Jiang river, or the Yangtze River, flows through Tibet and China. It starts from Tanggula Mountains and empties into the East China Sea, which is near Shanghai city.

Q: Where is the plateau of Yunnan located?

A: The plateau of Yunnan is located in the northern part of Yunnan province and the western area of the Guizhou province that lies in south-central China.