동남아시아 최대의 강. 중국 티베트고원 동부에서 남류하여 미얀마·라오스·타이·캄보디아를 경유하여 베트남 남부에서 남중국해로 흘러 들어간다. 메콩은 타이어계 호칭이며, 중국에서는 란창강[瀾滄江(난창강)]이라 부른다. 길이 4020㎞, 유역면적 80만㎢. 수원(水源)으로부터 라오스의 수도 비엔티안까지 상류부, 캄보디아의 수도 프놈펜까지 중류부, 그 이하가 하류부이다. 이 유역은 광대한 삼각주로 대미작지대(大米作地帶)이다. 메콩강은 상류로 올라갈수록 유역이 좁으며, 중국지역의 강수량이 적으므로 유량은 주로 라오스·타이·캄보디아·베트남의 강수량에 의해 좌우된다. 계절풍의 영향을 받아 우기와 건기의 차가 크며, 유량(流量)은 여름부터 가을에 증가한다. 메콩강 개발은 세계 각국의 기술·경제원조로 추진되고 있으며, 댐 건설 등을 중심으로 실시되고 있다

맨아래줄: 강가의로상아이스케키점. 때에따라선 동생은 1$구걸하기도하고 손미이있으면 합심으로 음료수도 팔고...하옇든 달라만 많이벌면 되니까.....

The Mekong River (known in Tibet as Dza-chu, China as Lancang Jiang and Thailand as Mae Nam Khong), is a major river in southeastern Asia. It is the longest river in the region. From its source in China's Qinghai Province near the border with Tibet, the Mekong flows generally southeast to the South China Sea, a distance of 4,200 km (2,610 mi). The Mekong crosses Yunnan Province, China, and forms the border between Myanmar (Burma) and Laos and most of the border between Laos and Thailand. It then flows across Cambodia and southern Vietnam into a rich delta before emptying into the South China Sea. In the upper course are steep descents and swift rapids, but the river is navigable south of Louangphrabang in Laos.

The natural resource management issues and priorities differ in each of the countries and the level of development and populations vary significantly. In north-east Thailand, with over 20 million people, the water resources are virtually fully developed and problems are emerging associated with salinisation of arable lands as result of over-clearing of native vegetation and poor irrigation, soil erosion, and declining water quality in the rivers and streams. In Laos, with 5 million people and a much poorer country from a GDP perspective, the water resources are largely undeveloped. Cambodia, with 10 million people, is recovering from decades of war, and in the Mekong delta some 20 million Vietnamese live on some of the most highly productive agricultural land in the world.

The Tônlé Sap is a shallow lake in western Cambodia which is part of the Mekong River system. It is the largest lake of Southeast Asia and is fed by numerous streams. During the dry season it drains by the Tônlé Sap River southeast to the Mekong River. During the wet monsoon season of June to November, the high waters of the Mekong River reverse the flow of the Tônlé Sab River and increase the size of the lake from 2,600 to 10,400 sq km (about 1,000 to 4,020 sq mi). When the high waters of the Mekong River recede, the flow reverses. This natural mechanism provides a unique and important balance to the Mekong River down stream of the lake and ensures a flow of fresh water during the dry season into the Mekong delta in Vietnam which buffers the intrusion of salt water from the South China Sea into the rich agricultural lands of the delta.

Normal Flow	Wet Season (Reverse flow into the Tônlé Sap)	Receding Flow During Dry Season

Mekong River Fact sheet

Length	4,200 km (2,610 mi)
Countries	China, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
Basin population	60 Million
Country population total	242 Million
Per Capita GDP	Varies from US$ 2,565 (Thailand) to US$ 265 (Cambodia)
Uses	Irrigation, fisheries, power generation, transportation, industrial and domestic supply
Primary Legal Agreement	Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin, Chiang Rai, Thailand, 5 April 1995 - (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam)
Institutional arrangements	Mekong River Commission (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam)

 Primary Legal Treaty / Agreement

The primary international legal agreement on the Mekong River is entitled "Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin", which was signed in Chiang Rai, Thailand on 5 April 1995 between Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

See the Agreement

Comments on the Agreement

Institutional Arrangements 

The primary Institution which has been established by the countries which are signatories to the Mekong Agreement is the Mekong River Commission (MRC).  For notes on the MRC and how it functions, follow this link.  Also see the Mekong Links Page for further information and a link to the MRC.

 

Issues

The Mekong system is extremely complex and effects the lives of some 60 million people, many of whom are amongst the poorest in the world.  There are many demands made on the river - to provide water for industrial and agricultural development, to sustain subsistence fishing, for transport, to maintain delicate ecological and hydrological balances.....  Inevitably there are conflicting demands made on the resource and very different views as to how the water should (or should not) be used.  The riparian governments, working independently and together through such structures as the Mekong River Commission have a variety of plans for the development of the region, as do community groups, different stakeholders, local and international NGOs, private investment and construction interests etc.  For greater detail of the various plans, views and perspectives, see the  Mekong Links Page.  

Background Information to the Countries of the Mekong Basin