 One of the world's great rivers, the Mekong rises in the T'ang-ku-la Range in eastern Tibet, China, then flows southeastward for about 4,180 km (2,600 mi). It empties its silt-laden waters into the South China Sea through a complex delta in southeastern Kampuchea and southern Vietnam. The drainage basin covers approximately 795,000 sq km (307,000 sq mi). In its middle course the river follows the boundary between Burma and Laos and between Laos and Thailand. The largest urban centers along it are Phnom Penh, in Kampuchea, and Vientiane, in Laos. The Mekong delta is navigable by shallow-draft vessels. Farther upstream, some stretches are navigable during the wet season. The volume of sediment is so great that parts of the delta coastline advance as much as 38 m (125 ft) per year. |
This website is in no way affiliated with Google or any part of Google, Inc. All images and page design are Copyright © 2008 GoogleLaos.com All Rights Reserved. |