Mekong, China

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1.

- flows through 6 countries

- transport limited > not navigable beyong Phnom Penh

- industrial/economic development > pop growth smaller than economic

- residential > 55m people > in 2000, 800 died > demands on water supply/infrastructure rising

- much of sewage finds its way to the river

- recreartion/leisure development causes conflict with traditional activities (fishing)

- Asian development bank donating > conserve natural environment/sustainable development

- energy > steep relief/large volume > only 5% (1600MW) hydroelectric potential developed

              > irreparable damage to fisheries > damage downstream

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2.

- farming development hampered by seasonal floods > 80% reliable on flooding - nutrients

- dams mean less frequent floods > adversly affecting farming/fishing

- Mekong/tributaries yield more fish than any other river system > annual harvest = 2m tonnes

- home to over 1200 different species

- over 1m people in cambodia dependant soley on fishing > Laos (70% homes)

- much of floodplain is forest > leaves for fish to feed on

- more dams > smaller floods

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