MEKONG RIVERTHE LIFE-GIVING RIVER

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=Mekong+River+fisherman&um=1&hl=th&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1020&bih=635&tbm=isch&tbnid=dmA2_xSjN7FijM:&imgrefurl=http://www.britannica.com/

bps/media-view/92881/1/0/0&docid=oAm2SyrwTYRwNM&imgurl=http://media-3.web.britannica.com/eb-media//21/93121-050-878F4D70.jpg&w=1600&h=1097&ei=6_m_TvHJMonLrQfv9IW_AQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=710&vpy=306&dur=2164&hovh=186&hovw=271&

tx=174&ty=97&sig=106310772108964024319&page=1&tbnh=135&tbnw=153&start=0&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0

What do you know about the Mekong River?

✤ Group Work

✤ Make a list of facts and information you think you know about the Mekong River

✤ No TALKING

Facts: The Mekong

✤ The longest river of SEA

✤ 4,900 kilometers / 3,000 miles

✤ From Yunnan to South China Sea

✤ China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam

✤ 44% of its course is in China.

The Mekong River

http://www.yunnanadventure.com/UploadFiles/Yunnan-Tour-Photos/TPRT005/Lancang-River-Grand-Canyon1.jpg

The Mekong River

The Mekong River

The Mekong River

The Mekong River

The Mekong River

The Life-Giving River

2 %16 %

35 %

18 %

18 %

11 %

✤ 60 million people

✤ Lower Mekong Basin - Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam

✤ Connected to river’s natural cycles

✤ 80% of protein needs

✤ Diverse, productive inland fisheries

✤ 2.6 million tons a year

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTEASTASIAPACIFIC/Resources/226262-1151703454492/Mekong_MWRAS_hydromap.gif

What makes the Mekong special?

✤ Rise and fall of water levels during wet/dry seasons

✤ Flood carries fertile silt.

✤ Horticulture, agriculture in Mekong Delta

✤ Productive rice farming in Thailand, Vietnam

What makes the Mekong special?

✤ Rise and fall of water levels during wet/dry seasons

✤ Flood carries fertile silt.

✤ Horticulture, agriculture in Mekong Delta

✤ Productive rice farming in Thailand, Vietnam

What makes the Mekong special?

✤ Rise and fall of water levels during wet/dry seasons

✤ Flood carries fertile silt.

✤ Horticulture, agriculture in Mekong Delta

✤ Productive rice farming in Thailand, Vietnam

Tonle Sap

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5039980

✤ The largest freshwater lake in SEA

✤ A combined lake and river system

✤ UNESCO biosphere, 1997

✤ Its flow changes directions.

✤ Lake expands and shrinks with seasons.

Tonle Sap

✤ Natural flood during rainy season

✤ The river rises enough to reverse its course.

✤ Water flows backward into the lake.

✤ Lake’s size shrinks from 2,500 sq.km to 16,000 sq.km.

✤ Enormous wetland area

Tonle Sap

✤ Natural flood during rainy season

✤ The river rises enough to reverse its course.

✤ Water flows backward into the lake.

✤ Lake’s size shrinks from 2,500 sq.km to 16,000 sq.km.

✤ Enormous wetland area

Tonle Sap Wetland

http://www.srisiamholidays.com/images/stories/Cambodia/Maps/cambodia%20wetland.gif

✤ Wetland- area that soil is saturated with water permanently or seasonally

✤ Support diversity of plants and animals

✤ Breeding ground for fish & aquatic animals

Tonle Sap Wetland

http://www.srisiamholidays.com/images/stories/Cambodia/Maps/cambodia%20wetland.gif

✤ Wetland- area that soil is saturated with water permanently or seasonally

✤ Support diversity of plants and animals

✤ Breeding ground for fish & aquatic animals

Tonle Sap ✤ Large flood plain

✤ Rich biodiversity

✤ Fertile sediment

✤ Most productive inland fisheries

✤ 230,000 tons of fish yearly

✤ 3 million people

✤ 60% protein for Cambodian

✤ The flow reverses at the end of rainy season.

✤ 300-500 species support the locals

Video Clip

✤ What is water festival like?

✤ How do the local people fish?

✤ In what ways are the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap important to the Cambodians?

✤ What kinds of fish are found in the Mekong region and the Tonle Sap?

✤ What kinds of animals are found?

“Where there is water, there is fish”

Sunset at the Tonle Sap

Mekong River Commission (MRC)http://worldinsidepictures.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/914.jpghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD206UnYmB4&feature=player_embedded

Where there is water, there is fish. Video Clip

http://worldinsidepictures.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/914.jpg

http://www.mrcmekong.org/about-the-mrc/

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=Mekong+River+fisherman&um=1&hl=th&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=1020&bih=635&tbm=isch&tbnid=dmA2_xSjN7FijM:&imgrefurl=http://www.britannica.com/bps/media-view/92881/1/0/0&docid=oAm2SyrwTYRwNM&imgurl=http://media-3.web.britannica.com/eb-

media//21/93121-050-878F4D70.jpg&w=1600&h=1097&ei=6_m_TvHJMonLrQfv9IW_AQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=710&vpy=306&dur=2164&hovh=

186&hovw=271&tx=174&ty=97&sig=106310772108964024319&page=1&tbnh=135&tbnw=153&start=0&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0

http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/the-mekong-river-survival-for-millions

http://tonlesap.net/

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5039980

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTEASTASIAPACIFIC/Resources/226262-1151703454492/Mekong_MWRAS_hydromap.gif

http://www.cambodiancommunityday.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63&Itemid=80

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20070307&t=2&i=444980&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=444980

http://thailand.prd.go.th/thailand_illustrated/content.php?s_id=287

http://www.laos-guide-999.com/vientiane-boat-racing-festival.html

http://www.parish-without-borders.net/cditt/cambodia/culture/waterfest2.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TonleSapMap.png

http://www.srisiamholidays.com/images/stories/Cambodia/Maps/cambodia%20wetland.gif

http://images.smh.com.au/2010/06/25/1644221/Mekong-Fishing-net-420x0.jpg

References