Flowing down from the Lasagongma Spring in the high Tibetan Plains, the humble beginnings of a stream rapidly gains strength to form the Mekong River, the life source of thousands of families that depend on its water for sustenance from six different countries. Flowing through six different nations, Tibet, China, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia and finally flows out to the South China Seas through Vietnam uniting six nations as one in the protection of this great resource to nature and mankind. An estimated 4,350 km in length, the Mekong River is the 12th longest river in the world and 7th longest in Asia and boasts an immense biodiversity only second to that of the Amazon.
The rough and varying terrain through which the river flows and the complex drainage systems with immense drops in the flow at places has hindered transportation from end to end in the ancient times. Although explorers from the times of Kublai Khan to Francis Garnier, have attempted to capture the region surrounding the river but through crocodiles, leeches, poisonous plants, giant fish and immense waterfalls, still failed to reach the source in the end. Additionally the river has helped create international relations among the nations and especially through the joint effort in conserving the river source, as pollution and deforestation have played a dangerous role in drastically changing conditions of the water body and its biodiversity.
Boasting the highest biodiversity per hectare of any river, the Mekong River is home to 20,000 plant species, 1,200 birds, 430 mammals, 800 reptiles and amphibians and 850 different species of fish. New species previously unknown to science have been discovered from the Mekong region as well as a number of endemic endangered creatures and plants containing 16 WWF Global 200 eco regions. Giant species of fish that grow as large as 3 meters in length can be found such as the Siamese giant carp, giant pangasius, Mekong giant catfish and Mekong freshwater stingray, all in serious decline due to overfishing, flooding and dams. The Irrawaddy dolphin, Siamese crocodile, saltwater crocodile, smooth coated otter, fishing cat, many of those frequently seen creatures in the past are now extremely rare or on the verge of extinction.
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