Yalu River

The Yalu River (Chinese: 鸭绿江; pinyin: Yālù Jiāng) or Amnok River (Korean: 압록강; MR: Amnokkang) is a river that runs along the border between China and North Korea. It is an important natural boundary between the two countries.

Together with the Tumen River to its east, and a small part of Paektu Mountain, the Yalu River helps form the official border line. This area has seen many historical events and battles over the years.

The river is important for both countries, providing water and natural resources. It also plays a role in the geography and history of the region, making it a place of interest for people studying the past.

Name

The Chinese name Yalu ("duck-green") was first recorded during the Tang dynasty. One old book, the Tongdian, says the river was named for its color, which looked like a mallard’s head. The Korean name "Amnok" comes from the same idea but uses Korean reading rules.

Long ago, the river was also called Peishui or Mazishui. Another old Korean name was Arinarye, where "Ari" may have meant something about the sun’s spirit.

There are two other ideas about where the name Yalu came from. One idea says it came from a Manchu language word meaning “the boundary between two countries.” Another idea says the name came from the river’s two upper branches, one called "Yā" and the other "Lù."

Geography

The Yalu River begins at an elevation of 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) above sea level on Paektu Mountain along the China–North Korea border. It flows south to Hyesan, then northwest for about 130 kilometres (81 miles) to Linjiang, before continuing south for another 300 kilometres (190 miles) to empty into Korea Bay between Dandong in China and Sinuiju in North Korea. The river runs through the Chinese provinces of Jilin and Liaoning, and the North Korean provinces of North Pyongan, Chagang, and Ryanggang.

The Yalu River is 795 kilometres (494 miles) long and drains an area of over 30,000 square kilometres (12,000 square miles). Its main tributaries include the Changjin, Hochon, and Togro rivers from North Korea, and the Ai (or Aihe) and the Hun from China. The river is mostly not navigable, and it freezes in winter, sometimes allowing people to cross it on foot. The river’s depth changes from about 1 metre (3 feet) near Hyesan to around 2.5 metres (8 feet) near where it meets the Yellow Sea. The area where the river meets the sea is important for birds. There are about 205 islands along the Yalu River, with North Korea and China sharing them based on a 1962 agreement. North Korea controls 127 islands, while China controls 78.

History

Imperial era

The Yalu River has a long history. It is where the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo grew powerful. Many old forts are along the river, and an important old city of that kingdom was at what is now Ji'an. A special island in the river, Wihwa Island, is famous because in 1388 a leader named General Yi Songgye decided to lead his army south to Kaesong. This decision helped start the Joseon dynasty.

Because the river lies between Korea and China, it has been important in many battles, such as the Battle of the Yalu River (1894) during the First Sino-Japanese War, the Battle of Yalu River (1904) during the Russo-Japanese War, and battles during the Korean War.

Korean War

During the Korean War, when troops from the United Nations moved close to the river, China warned them not to cross. When they did, China entered the war to support North Korea. Almost all the bridges over the river were destroyed, except for the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge linking Sinuiju in North Korea to Dandong in China. The area also saw many airplane battles, called "MiG Alley", as forces fought for control of the skies over North Korea.

After the war

Since the early 1990s, the Yalu River has often been crossed by people from North Korea seeking safety in China, though the Tumen River is still the most common escape route.

Economy

The Yalu River is very important for making electricity. One of the biggest dams for this is the Sup'ung Dam, which is very tall and long and sits above the city of Sinuiju in North Korea. This dam created a large artificial lake called Supung Lake. People also use the river to move things, especially wood from the forests along its banks, and it provides fish for nearby communities. There are more dams, like the Taipingwan Dam below Sup'ung and the Unbong Dam above it, which also help make electricity.

Near the city of Dandong in China, close to a place called Hushan, there are villages in North Korea. Life in these villages has been difficult, and they do not have electricity.

Crossings

The Yalu River has several important bridges connecting China and North Korea. One is the Ji'an Yalu River Border Railway Bridge, linking Ji'an in China to Manp'o in North Korea. Another bridge, called the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, connects Dandong, China to Sinŭiju, North Korea. There is also a new bridge under construction between Dandong, China and Sinŭiju, North Korea, known as the New Yalu River Bridge.