Hydrographic Characteristics of Yangtze River in Yangtze River History

The hydrographic characteristics makes Yangtze River become the No.3 longest river in the world. In Yangtze River history, the ten-thousand ships and many Yangtze Cruises are allowed to pass through. More and more travelers come to Chongqing to travel with Yangtze Cruise enjoying the landscapes of Three Gorges.

The Runoff of Yangtze River in Yangtze River History

The average amount of the runoff of the Yangtze River is 960 billion cubic meters accounting for the 35.1% of the total number of the runoff of China, which takes the No. 1 in China. It is also accounting for the 55.2% of the total number of flowing into the Chinese Sea. The runoff of Yangtze River takes the No.3 in the world; the former two are Amazon and the Congo River.

The Changes of the Water Quantity of Yangtze River in Yangtze River History

According to the Yangtze River History, the average water level is 20 meters (65 feet) in a year, and during the dry year, it drops to 8-11 meters (26-35 feet). In the valleys, the flood could make the water level could rise to 40-46 meters (130-150 feet) high, which forms a magnificent scenery. On the other hand, in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River, the water level is controlled by the lakes so that it changes little.

But the sea tide has great influence to the water level, for example near the Wusong, the flood tide is 5 meters in a day, and in a year it could rise to 6 meters (20 feet) high.

According to the water quantity data of Yangtze River, the plateau in the Yangtze River basin accounts for 10% of the amount of the runoff of Yangtze River, and the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River, Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake account for 40%.

The Rate of flow of Yangtze River in Yangtze River History

It is great of the water quantity of Yangtze River. Even in the up stream of Yangtze River, the average rate of flow is over 1,982 cubic meters / second (70,000 cubic feet / second). When Yalong River the largest branch of Yangtze River converges with the main stream, the rate of flow could closely rise to 5,493 cubic meters / second (194,000 cubic feet / second).

In the lower reaches of Yangtze River, many branches have been converged while the rate of flow gradually increases. At the end of Three Gorges Dam near Yichang City, the rate of flow could up to 14,980 cubic meters / second (529,000 cubic feet / second). Nearby the Hankou, the rate of flow is 23,984 cubic meters / second (847, 000 cubic feet / second). And nearby Nanjing City, the rate of flow is 31, 149 cubic meters / second (1,100,000 cubic feet / second).

The average rate of flow of the estuary of Yangtze River is about 33,980 cubic meters / second (1,200,000 cubic feet / second). In a year, the total number of flowing into the sea is 1,072 cubic kilometers (244 cubic miles), which takes the No. 4 of all the rivers of the world.