Soil Erosion of Yangtze River in Modern Times

The Formation of Soil Erosion of Yangtze River History

In the late 1950s, due to promote the economic growth, the forests in the upper reaches of Yangtze River were awfully damaged. Besides the more population increased, the forest coverage rate decreased to 9%. It has been the terrible lesson to Chinese people.

After that, people began to know the importance of protecting forests. In the middle of 1980, the forests coverage rate increases to 13.3%, and it contiguously increased in the years.

On the other hand, the soil erosion of Yangtze River becomes the new problem of China. According to the historic records, the soil erosion of Jialing River Basin accounts for 63%, Tuojiang River Basin accounts for 58.5%, the Jinsha River Basin accounts for 36.5%, the Dadu River Basin accounts for 27.8% and the Minjiang River Basin accounts for 47.6%. There are more and more sediment such as silt and rocks in Yangtze River, Yangtze Cruise was hardly to sail through Yangtze River. In Yangtze River history, it is a dark time of Yangtze River.

Soil Erosion in Yangtze River History

The development of ecological environment, flood control and the economic growth of upper reaches of Yangtze River Basin have been impeded with the soil erosion.

In Yangtze River history, the soil erosion has been destroyed the agriculture of upper reaches of Yangtze River. Lots of water control projects have been destroyed. The agricultural immigration has also been affected. Thus, during that period, Yangtze Cruise couldn't sail through the dangerous waterway of Yangtze River.

The soil erosion caused the damage of flood. Due to the soil erosion, the flood frequently happened and it destroyed many forests. The flood disaster has been happened many times in Yangtze River history.

Due to the soil erosion of upper reaches of Yangtze River, the waterway has been blocking, which is bad for control the flood. The navigation development has been promoted slowly such as Yangtze Cruise. It is the worst of the decrease of the hydroelectric power.

The flood happened many times in middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River. While the more silt and rocks added in upper reaches of Yangtze River, the waterway level of middle reaches of Yangtze River rose. The hanging river was formed. Thus, the water control project has to face much pressure from it.