The Yangtze River, Asia’s longest and most significant river, flows 6,300 km (3,915 mi) from the Dangla Mountains between Tibet and China’s Qinghai Province, eventually merging into the East China Sea. Serving as a vital trade route through the world’s most populous country, the Yangtze is also a key contributor to China’s economy, with its valley being a major rice-producing region. The river’s waters are heavily utilized for irrigation, and many people live on houseboats or junks along its length.
The Yangtze is also home to the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s most powerful hydroelectric power station, which will eventually generate 22,500 MW of electricity, providing affordable power to China’s rural population for homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals. The construction of the dam, which created a massive 39.3 cubic-kilometer (31.9 million acre-feet) reservoir, stands as one of the greatest engineering achievements in history.
The Ganges River, the largest in the Indian subcontinent, holds deep spiritual significance for millions of Hindus who revere it as the goddess Ganga Ma (Mother Ganges). For thousands of years, Hindus have believed in the river’s power to purify the soul and heal the body, making it an essential part of daily life for millions who rely on its waters for drinking, bathing, and industrial use.