Ayeyarwady River

From ArticleWorld

The Ayeyarwady River is the major river of Myanmar or Burma. It is also called Irrawaddy River. It drains an area of 411,000 sq km.The name is derived from the Sanskrit term “airavati” which means “elephant river”. In the olden days it was the only way for transport purposes. The Inwa Bridge built across this river was the only bridge for several years for crossing the river. During the British Era, when there was no other means of transport, this river remained the only way to travel across the country and so it is also called the “Road to Mandalay”.

Origin and Course

The Ayeyarwady River is 2,170 km long. It arises in the state of Kachin.It is formed by the union of two rivers, the western Mali Hka and the eastern N’Mai Hka. The tributary Mali Hka also called as Nam Kiu in Shan language starts on the north side of Putao in the southern parts of Himalayas. It flows across the country of Myanmar in the southward direction. It divides in to nine branches forming a delta before draining in to the Indian Ocean. The river has many sand banks and islands which makes navigation a difficult job. The river is navigable with large vessels for about 1,600 km upstream from the ocean up to the region of Myitkyina.

Significance

• It is the major way of transport in the country of Myanmar.
• Orcaella brevistosus or the Irrawaddy Dolphin which is not a true river dolphin is found in this river.